When Hurricane Winds Die Down, Your Underground Infrastructure Recovery Begins: A Long Island Property Owner’s Guide to Essential Restoration
When major storm events like hurricanes sweep through Long Island, the immediate aftermath often focuses on visible damage – downed trees, damaged roofs, and flooded streets. However, beneath the surface lies a critical infrastructure challenge that property owners must address: the restoration of sewer and water main systems. Understanding the essential steps for post-hurricane infrastructure recovery can mean the difference between a swift return to normal operations and months of ongoing problems.
Understanding Hurricane Impact on Underground Infrastructure
Hurricanes create a perfect storm of conditions that devastate buried infrastructure systems. For damaged facilities, steps involved in restoring service included drying out and cleaning engines, pumps, and lift stations; testing and repairing waterlogged electrical systems; testing for toxic chemicals and harmful bacteria that may have infiltrated pipes and plants; restoring pressure (drinking water distribution systems); activating disinfection units; restoring bacteria needed to treat wastes (sewage treatment plants); and cleaning, repairing, and flushing distribution and sewer lines.
The most common types of damage to buried wastewater and storm water infrastructure were the separation of pipe joints, leaks, and breaks. Much of the damage was attributed to ground subsidence and loss of bedding. Flooding caused supporting soils to become supersaturated, and then as floodwaters drained, the supporting soils began to shrink and subside. The movement of soils led to breaks and fractures in rigid pipe networks.
Critical First Response Steps for Property Owners
The immediate post-hurricane period requires swift assessment and action. Have a professional inspect your home for structural damage and ensure utilities like water, gas, electric, and sewer lines are safe before re-entry. Property owners should begin with a visual inspection of their property, looking for signs of sewer backup, standing water around utility connections, or unusual odors that might indicate system compromise.
In the aftermath of a hurricane, your local wastewater treatment facility may be overwhelmed due to floodwaters, power outages, or physical damage. Because sewer pipes work with gravity, wastewater will continue to flow out of homes. However, if everyone maintains a typical water usage rate, there is a risk of backups at collection points, potentially leading to overflows from manholes. Therefore, it is essential to minimize the amount of water you send down the drain.
Professional Assessment and System Testing
Once safety is established, professional assessment becomes crucial. The EPA found that the steps involved in repairing damaged facilities after hurricanes included: Drying out and cleaning engines, pumps, and lift stations. Testing and repairing electrical systems. Testing for toxic chemicals and harmful bacteria in pipes and plants.
For private systems, property owners should implement specific protocols. If a private water source has been flooding or may have been flooded, there are some steps to take to ensure safe water quality: Use a different source of water for now. Visually check for damage or erosion around wellheads, spring boxes, or cisterns. Check water to see if there is any obvious change in the characteristics of your water. If damage is detected, secure the system. Cover the damaged area to protect it from further contamination. Then, contact a licensed contractor, plumber, or inspector to fix the damage.
Essential Restoration Procedures
The restoration process involves multiple critical steps that must be performed by qualified professionals. Restoration of these systems will require response and recovery workers to assess and repair the damage to the systems. This work will involve entry into many confined spaces, the use of heavy equipment to dig trenches, and the use of chemicals to make the water potable and to allow sewage treatment plants to resume normal operations.
Water system restoration typically requires repressurization and quality testing. It took more than four days to repressurize the water system, which consisted of 125 miles of pipe and 90 pumping stations, and even longer before the water was potable. This timeline demonstrates why property owners need to plan for extended service disruptions.
Health and Safety Considerations
Post-hurricane sewer and water main restoration involves significant health risks that property owners must understand. After major flooding events, people may be exposed to raw sewage due to collection system pipes breaking or leaking because of landslides, washouts, trees falling, inflow and infiltration (I&I), crushed lines, and damaged fire hydrants and meters.
If sewage contamination occurs, immediate action is required. If sewage backs up into your home, prompt cleaning is essential to prevent exposure to harmful pathogens. Wear protective gear, such as rubber gloves and boots, when cleaning contaminated areas. Use a disinfectant solution made of 1/8 cup of bleach per gallon of water to clean surfaces and prevent bacterial growth. Dispose of any porous materials (e.g., carpets or drywall) that have been saturated by sewage, as they can still contain harmful contaminants even after cleaning.
Working with Professional Restoration Services
Given the complexity and safety risks involved in post-hurricane infrastructure restoration, partnering with experienced professionals is essential. When selecting a restoration company, Long Island property owners should look for licensed, insured contractors with extensive experience in storm recovery work.
For comprehensive sewer and water main restoration services, Long Island Sewer & Water Main offers the expertise and 24/7 availability that property owners need during post-hurricane recovery. Fully licensed & insured staff that is ready to assist you with a wide array of services · Proudly serving residents and businesses across Nassau and Suffolk County. The team at Long Island Sewer and Water Main is proud to have a fully licensed and insured staff that is ready to assist you with a wide array of services. Proudly serving Long Island and NYC home and business owners for almost 40 years.
Advanced Recovery Technologies
Modern restoration efforts benefit from advanced technologies that minimize disruption and accelerate recovery. As a leading sewer line contractor on Long Island, NY, we are the only ones on Long Island to offer trenchless sewer line services. Using trenchless sewer installation, our skilled technicians utilize these advanced techniques and along with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure efficient and reliable results. This helps minimize damage to your yard, driveway, and sidewalks while also saving you money.
These trenchless technologies are particularly valuable in post-hurricane scenarios where properties may already be damaged and traditional excavation methods could cause additional disruption to recovering communities.
Long-Term Recovery Planning
Post-hurricane infrastructure recovery extends beyond immediate repairs. Full facility restorations in some locations may take many months, and costs of needed repairs are largely unknown. To meet those long-term recovery needs, affected communities must develop comprehensive restoration strategies.
Property owners should work with their restoration contractors to develop maintenance schedules and monitoring protocols that help prevent future storm-related damage. This includes regular inspections, preventive maintenance, and consideration of infrastructure upgrades that can improve resilience against future storm events.
Conclusion
Post-hurricane sewer and water main restoration requires immediate attention, professional expertise, and comprehensive planning. Long Island property owners who understand these essential restoration steps and work with qualified professionals can minimize disruption, protect their health and safety, and ensure their properties return to full functionality as quickly as possible. The key is acting swiftly while prioritizing safety and working with experienced contractors who understand the unique challenges of storm recovery infrastructure work.