Storm Damage Restoration in North Bergen & Hudson County, NJ

Storm damage restoration is the work of securing a property after wind, rain or flooding, removing the water that got in, drying and cleaning the structure, and repairing what was damaged. Summit Restoration and Build provides 24/7 storm damage restoration for homes and businesses in North Bergen and throughout Hudson County.

Storms damage buildings in two ways at once. Wind and fallen debris break windows, damage roofs and open the building up. Then rain gets in through those openings, while heavy rainfall overwhelms drains and floods basements and low-lying streets. The second kind of damage keeps getting worse for every hour the water sits. When you call, we dispatch a crew the same day to stop the damage, then stay through the cleanup and repairs.

A flooded basement is the most common storm call in Hudson County. Heavy rain can overwhelm the storm drains, push water through foundation walls, or back up through floor drains. Every hour the water sits, it soaks further into drywall, insulation, flooring and stored belongings.

What to do first:

• Stay out if it's unsafe. Don't enter standing water if it could reach outlets, appliances or electrical panels.
• Don't use your HVAC system if any part of it was flooded. The EPA advises against using it to dry the house.
• Photograph everything before anything is moved or thrown away. Your insurer will want to see it.
• Call for professional extraction as soon as possible. The EPA and CDC advise drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

How we clean up a flooded basement:

1. We extract the standing water.
2. We remove materials that soaked up water and can't be properly dried or cleaned, such as wet carpet and pad, insulation, and drywall below the waterline.
3. We clean and sanitize the affected surfaces.
4. We dry the structure with commercial equipment and moisture meters until readings are back to normal.

If the water came from a sewer backup instead of rain, the cleanup is different: see sewage cleanup.

North Bergen has seen what heavy rain can do. During the remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021, the township's public works department reported nearly 11 inches of rain. Homes and streets flooded, and Hudson County was included in the federal major disaster declaration that followed (FEMA DR-4614). Localized street flooding is a known local problem: in 2023 the township closed a $4.3 million NJ Water Bank loan to address flooding on 85th Street.

Most storm damage here comes from nor'easters, tropical storm remnants and summer cloudbursts that drop more rain than drains can carry. The buildings that take the worst of it are the ones common in Hudson County: basement apartments, finished basements, older multifamily buildings with flat roofs, and properties on low-lying ground near the Meadowlands. Being based in North Bergen means we're close by when the next storm hits.

Wind and storm damage: Damage from windstorms and hail is a covered peril on standard homeowners policies, subject to your deductible. Some New Jersey policies carry a separate windstorm or hurricane deductible.

Flooding: Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage, meaning water from rising surface water or overflowing waterways. Flood coverage comes from a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer. New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance notes that flood insurance doesn't take effect until 30 days after it's purchased.

Sewer and drain backup: This is a third category. It's usually excluded unless you've added a water backup endorsement.

Whatever your coverage, documentation matters. We document the damage from day one and can communicate directly with your adjuster if needed. Learn more about our insurance claim assistance.