Hurricane Ida is in the Rear-View Mirror. What’s Next?

People are getting back on their feet months after Hurricane Ida hit New Jersey. This storm is among the most devastating to affect the state, causing extensive and costly damage to various structures.

Depending on factors like closeness to the hurricane’s path, age of the building, and materials used for the construction, some houses or commercial properties might be destroyed. On the other hand, some might sustain only minimal damage.

Still, regardless of the extent of the damage, it will decrease the structure’s soundness and lead to safety hazards to people if another disaster comes. After the storm, property owners must hire a structural engineer NJ to assess whether the building is still safe to use. This should not be delayed because the possible flaws can worsen and lead to more danger and expenditures.

During the inspection, the professional engineer will look for possible faults in the foundation walls, building frame, roofing system, exterior, and other major structural systems. They will also determine if the defects were inflicted by strong winds, water, or flying debris. Afterward, they will give insights on improving the building to make it more durable moving forward.

Scheduling the repair and restoration work as soon as possible allows property owners to keep their houses or commercial structures safe. Even if Hurricane Ida has already left, there can will likely be another storm coming; if not this year, then next.

Besides inspecting the building once the calamity passes, it is equally important to conduct structural inspections even before a hurricane arrives. A professional NJ structural engineer can perform annual assessments to help owners maintain their properties regularly and avoid more expensive construction caused by undetected or late detected damage.

Learn more about the topic with this infographic provided by Lockatong Engineering that discusses the role of structural inspections and professional engineers before and after calamities like Hurricane Ida.