Sandy-Damaged Homes Rebuilt Higher And Stronger
By Michael L. Diamond, Asbury Park Press, N.J. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Along the way there has been hope and distress, heartfelt support from strangers and occasional tears. But the end is so close. No reason to give up now.
"The way I looked at it, I worked so hard to get here," Kellner, 29, said. "I wanted to come back. Not to mention, I had an entire mortgage I'm responsible for."
Jersey Shore residents whose homes were washed out by Sandy have spent the past two years wading through obstacles in their bid to rebuild. They have encountered lingering questions as to where they will find the money, long permitting processes and fly-by-night contractors.
Still, on the two-year anniverary, residents such as Kellner think they are getting close. Their new homes should withstand storms as devastating as Sandy. And they note that if there's a storm worse than that, the Shore has bigger problems indeed.
Getting ready for the next Sandy
Build higher
The trick to protecting themselves? "Elevation is the best solution," said
Few companies have applied to lift homes in
Sandy hit
When Kellner's home is complete, it will be elevated 12 feet and have wood made by
Sandy recovery group gets proactive
Among the issues:
--Money.
The home, in the
It looked bleak. The insurance money along with bank and government loans weren't enough. They were forced to live with their respective parents -- Cheryl in
It allowed them to borrow money not based on the home's current value, but its future value after the renovation is completed. The loan typically has an interest rate that is about half a percentage point higher than other mortgages that are backed by the federal government. It comes with fees for consultants and appraisals. And homeowners need to make a down payment of 3.5 percent of the loan amount.
But construction finally began in July and
"You have to take chances in life and hopefully it was one of those 100-year storms,"
Sandy Victims: RREM and SHRAP still a nightmare
--Permits.
But getting them off the ground hasn't been easy. Each town has its own building department. Each department might interpret the building regulations differently. And Walters, who initially thought it would take about six months to complete a home, said it now takes as long as 10 months.
The rebuilding could take years longer; thousands of homeowners at the Shore will need to elevate their homes to comply with
But Walters said his homes can withstand winds of 120 mph. And most of his customers exceed
"A home is definitely going to hold up better," Walters said. "All the homes are above the new flood elevations, and 80 percent of homeowners opted to go even higher."
The
--Fly-by-night contractors. Kellner moved into her new home in
With Sandy bearing down, Kellner put her belongings on her furniture and placed a few sandbags on the front stoop. But those precautions were no match. The home was swamped with 6 1/2 feet of water and needed to be demolished.
Kellner thought she found a contractor who would make her home a model for his company. But after about two months without seeing any progress, she went to check on her permits at borough hall, only to learn nothing had been submitted.
Getting help
She needed to start over. She found
Sandy charities filling repair needs
It has been a trying time.
After the storm, Kellner and her dog, a three-legged rescue named Koa, stayed with her parents in
But last Tuesday, volunteers from
"The way I look at it now, if there's a storm that goes 10- or 12-feet up, we're in a lot more trouble," Kellner said.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR HOME IN A STORM
--A strong roof, the building's first line of defense against Mother Nature.
--Well-protected doors and windows with impact-resistant glass or shutters.
--Elevated buildings in flood-risk zones.
--Buildings tied together with hurricane straps to reduce the risk of high winds.
Source:
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