How Do Hurricanes Cause Storm Damage?

New Jersey is no stranger to storms of any season. Only a handful of miles from Raritan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Piscataway is also no stranger to tropical storms in particular. There are many types of storms, but tropical storms or hurricanes are some of the most damaging.

As North England learned firsthand during Hurricane Sandy, hurricanes cause damage far past the coast. In fact, Hurricane Sandy caused damage across more than 20 states.

Hurricanes cause damage through a combination of storm surge, flooding, and high winds.

Storm surge: the most damaging

Storm surge is often misclassified as a “wall of water.” In fact, it’s not a wall at all - but it does include a lot of water. As a hurricane comes nearer to shore, the powerful winds are pushing water ahead of it. If the wind pushes enough water close enough to the shore, this water has nowhere else to go except further and further inland. Storm surge occurs when this excess water piles so high that it climbs above the tide level. The waters in a storm surge are so powerful that they can destroy the land structures they crash into.

Floods: the most common

Floods are a common result of storm surge, because that excess water has nowhere to go and it has no way to drain. Another common reason for flooding, both with and without a hurricane present, is heavy rain. Hurricanes can cause excess heavy rainfall as fast as 100 miles past where the hurricane makes landfall. Flooding from rain is how a hurricane like Sandy affects so many states.

Wind: the speediest

Hurricane winds occur at a rate of 74 - 155 miles per hour. The combination of speed and force make wind incredibly dangerous. Hurricane winds not only cause storm surge, but on land winds can uproot trees, knock down power lines, lift roofs, and even carry vehicles. The wind then haphazardly throws these objects where they don’t belong, causing further damage.

When your property has been damaged by hurricanes, the aftermath can be emotionally, mentally, and physically draining. Don’t deal with it alone. SERVPRO of Piscataway is ready to help.