What to Do After Your Long Beach Island Home Floods
Key Takeaways
Don't go back inside until local officials say it's safe, and keep the power off if anything is wet.
Photograph everything and keep samples of your flooring before a single plank gets thrown out.
Report your flood claim right away. The NFIP generally expects your documentation within 60 days of the flood.
Get the house drying within 24 to 48 hours to stay ahead of mold.
Saltwater and wet subfloors mean most flooded flooring comes out, even "waterproof" vinyl plank.
If repairs hit 50% of your home's pre-flood market value, stricter rebuilding rules can kick in, so talk to your town before you commit to a plan.
One turnkey builder handling flooring, cabinets, and construction usually beats juggling five separate trades.
Your LBI Home Took on Water. Now What?
If you're reading this, there's a good chance the recent nor'easter left a mess in your house. Local coverage in The SandPaper reported about 5 feet of water on Route 72 East near Hotel LBI, with Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Holgate, and Long Beach Township all hit hard.
We're Nardini Custom. Our family has been in the housing business since 1934, and Tommy Nardini got his start laying floors in the family business at thirteen. Our Long Beach Island showroom sits right on Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom, so we've seen what bay water does to a shore house. Below is the order we'd tackle things in if it were our own place, including a few steps most flood guides skip.
Step 1: Stay Safe Before You Go Back In
Wait for the all clear from your town. Then go slow.
Ready.gov's flood guidance is blunt about the big risks: don't touch electrical equipment if it's wet or you're standing in water, avoid wading through floodwater (it can be contaminated or even electrically charged by downed lines), and run generators only outdoors, away from windows. Wear boots, heavy gloves, and a mask. Kids and anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system should stay out of a wet house entirely.
And if you smell gas? Leave and call the utility from outside.
Step 2: Document Everything Before You Tear Anything Out
This is where a lot of homeowners accidentally hurt their own claim.
Before you rip up carpet or haul a soaked vanity to the curb, take photos and video of every room, the exterior, and the waterline on your walls. Get close-ups of appliance labels, too. The NFIP claims checklist specifically recommends keeping samples of carpet, flooring, and blinds to show your adjuster, and building a list of damaged contents with make, model, serial number, and approximate age.
Cut a square of your flooring, bag it, and label it, which takes about five minutes and can save you a real argument later about what was actually installed.
Step 3: Report Your Flood Claim Right Away
Call your insurance agent as soon as you can, with your policy number handy. In most cases, flood damage falls under a separate flood policy rather than a standard homeowners policy, so check which coverage you actually have: building, contents, or both.
A few things worth knowing from the NFIP checklist:
Ask your adjuster for their Flood Control Number card and photo ID.
You can request an advance partial payment on your claim.
Your documentation is generally due within 60 days of the flood.
Keep a log of every call and conversation. Dates, names, what was said.
Don't sit on this part. Adjusters can get stretched thin after a storm that hits the whole island at once.
Step 4: Dry the House Out Fast
Mold doesn't wait for your adjuster. The CDC's mold cleanup tips say items soaked by floodwater that can't be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours should come out of the house. Open doors and windows, and once the electricity is safe, run fans and dehumidifiers around the clock.
One more CDC point we'd underline: painting or caulking over mold doesn't fix it. The water problem has to be solved and the mold cleaned out first.
Step 5: Decide What Stays and What Goes
Here's where coastal flooding differs from a burst pipe. Bay and ocean water carries salt, sand, and whatever else was on the street. Salt residue tends to hold moisture, so materials that look dry on top can stay damp underneath for a long time.
Flooring
Generally speaking, flooded carpet and pad are done. Solid hardwood that sat in water usually cups or buckles as it dries. And luxury vinyl plank? The planks themselves may survive, but water often gets trapped in the underlayment and subfloor below them, which is why most flooded LVP still comes up so the subfloor can be dried and checked.
Cabinets
Base cabinets built from particleboard or MDF tend to swell and delaminate once they wick up water. Upper cabinets are often fine. Depending on your situation, that can mean replacing just the lower run or rethinking the whole kitchen while the room's already opened up.
Walls and Insulation
Wet drywall and insulation are commonly cut out above the waterline so the wall cavity can dry. Your adjuster and contractor should agree on the cut height before anyone starts swinging a hammer.
Step 6: Find Out If "Substantial Damage" Applies
Most flood guides skip this one, and it matters a lot on LBI.
Under FEMA's rules, a home is considered substantially damaged when the cost to restore it to its pre-damage condition equals or exceeds 50% of the structure's market value before the flood. When that threshold is met, the home generally has to be brought into compliance with current floodplain regulations, which can affect things like elevation. Your town's construction or floodplain official makes that call, not your contractor.
Why does this matter right now? Because the answer shapes your whole plan. Talk to your town's building department early, before you lock in finishes you might have to rip out again. Nobody wants to pay for the same kitchen twice.
Step 7: Rebuild Smarter Than Before
Some materials hold up to floodwater far better than others. FEMA publishes technical bulletins on flood damage-resistant materials that spell out what's acceptable in areas that may flood again. For lower levels, that often points toward water-resistant flooring, moisture-tolerant cabinet materials, and finishes that can be cleaned rather than replaced.
Timing is the other piece. On the island, everybody wants their work done in the off season so the house is ready to enjoy or rent by summer. After a storm like this one, contractor calendars fill fast. If you're hoping to be back in by Memorial Day, it's smart to get on a builder's schedule soon.
Why We Think One Builder Beats Five Separate Contractors
After a flood, most people end up coordinating a flooring store, a cabinet shop, a carpenter, a roofer, and a painter, all on different schedules. It's exhausting.
That's the reason we set up our flood and storm damage repair on LBI as one coordinated service. As a turnkey builder, we handle flooring replacement, kitchen and cabinet work, remodeling, roofing, siding, and decks under one roof. We also handle the paperwork side, from estimates and master schedules to obtaining permits, and our Ship Bottom showroom lets you pick cabinetry, flooring, and finishes in one visit, with design help right there. Build clients also get access to wholesale pricing on selections.
You can browse the flooring and cabinetry brands we carry, including vinyl plank lines from Duchateau, Milliken, and Masland, check out our featured work and press, or see everything Nardini Custom builds and renovates. And if you want to know who you'd be working with, our family's story goes back three generations.
We're meticulous, and we'd rather tell you honestly that your subfloor needs replacing than cover it up and have you call us again next spring.
Talk to Our Long Beach Island Storm Repair Team
Whether you need new flooring in a few rooms or a full rebuild, Nardini Custom can walk through the damage with you and put together a plan. We'll be straight with you about what can be saved and what can't. Stop by our showroom at 619 Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom, call (609) 342-1115, or contact us online to get your LBI storm damage repair started.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a flood insurance claim?
Report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible. Under the NFIP, supporting documentation is generally due within 60 days of the flood, so check your specific policy for exact deadlines.
Should I throw out flooded flooring before the adjuster comes?
Only after you've photographed it and saved a labeled sample. The NFIP recommends keeping flooring and carpet samples to show your adjuster. A photo of the box label or your original receipt helps too.
How quickly does mold grow after a flood?
The CDC recommends drying your home and removing items that can't be dried within 24 to 48 hours, because mold can start growing quickly on wet materials.
Can luxury vinyl plank flooring be saved after a flood?
Sometimes the planks survive. But water trapped in the underlayment and subfloor usually means the floor has to come up so everything underneath can dry and be inspected.
What is the 50% rule for flood-damaged homes?
If repair costs equal or exceed 50% of the structure's pre-flood market value, FEMA considers it substantially damaged, and your town may require it to meet current floodplain standards. Your local construction official makes that call. It's worth asking about early.
Do I need a permit to repair flood damage on LBI?
In most cases, yes, for anything beyond basic cleanup. Check with your town's construction office before starting repairs.
Can one contractor handle flooring, cabinets, and rebuilding?
Yes, a turnkey builder like Nardini Custom can manage flooring, cabinetry, remodeling, and exterior repairs as one project, so you're not coordinating separate trades.
This article is for general educational purposes only and isn't insurance, legal, or engineering advice. Check with your insurer, your local construction office, and a licensed professional about your specific situation.
