What comes first after a storm?
Follow evacuation and re-entry directions. Keep away from damaged walls, sinking ground, loose docks and exposed electrical equipment. Call emergency services for immediate danger. Inspection and photographs can wait until access is safe.
What should you record for the assessment?
- Date, location and the change you noticed.
- Wide views and close views from stable ground.
- Older photographs of the same section.
- Debris impact, displaced cap sections or soil loss.
- Who was notified and what temporary action was taken.
Where can you check nearby water conditions?
The county links Intracoastal gauges and creek-level resources. Save the station name and time with your notes. A reading at Bing’s Landing, Marineland or Smith Creek does not establish the elevation at your own wall.
Does emergency repair need approval?
Ask the office what applies to the specific event, parcel and work. DEP’s coastal emergency procedures have conditions; an old storm waiver should not be treated as permission for new construction. Keep the written authorization with the work description.
Keep insurance and repair decisions separate
Notify your insurer and ask how it wants the damage documented before non-emergency work changes the evidence. Coverage is policy-specific; NFIP guidance excludes seawalls.
Continue with coverage questions · assessment preparation.
Organize the first repair conversations
- Make access safe before gathering detail
Follow official directions and keep people away from damaged edges. Report immediate hazards through emergency services. Ask the appropriate professional about unstable ground, structural movement or exposed utilities.
- Create one dated damage file
Label photos by wall segment and viewpoint. Keep originals, earlier comparison photos, reports, receipts and a log of notifications. Describe what you observed without assigning a cause that has not been assessed.
- Separate temporary and permanent work
Request a written description of each. Ask the relevant office what authorization applies to the proposed action and ask the insurer what documentation it needs. Keep those responses with the scope.
- Check the remaining waterfront
Have the assessment address connected docks, returns, drainage and neighboring transitions. A repaired visible section may not answer questions about concealed supports or other damage.
Record the observation precisely
Useful: “The cap joint was open in the October 12 photo.”Less useful: “The whole wall failed in the storm.” Keep the photo date, viewpoint and earlier comparison image. Let the qualified assessor distinguish the visible change, likely cause and remaining uncertainty.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Local tide and water-level gaugesSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- CCCL post-storm proceduresSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- NFIP coverage exclusionsSource reviewed 2026-10-26