The Rockaway peninsula is the part of Queens with the ocean on one side and Jamaica Bay on the other. From Far Rockaway in the east through Arverne, Rockaway Park and Belle Harbor to Breezy Point in the west, homes sit a short walk from the beach or the bay, along Beach Channel Drive and the streets off the boardwalk. Water damage restoration in Far Rockaway and the rest of the peninsula has to plan for something most of Queens does not: seawater coming in from outside.
Queens Water Damage Restoration is an independent referral service, not a restoration company. When you send the form, your details go to an independent local restoration provider serving Queens, who can contact you, inspect and quote any work directly. You decide whether to hire them.
What Sandy showed
Superstorm Sandy in 2012 flooded the city’s coasts. The NYC Health Department counts 52 injury deaths, most along the coasts in zones where an evacuation had been ordered: 44 percent on Staten Island, 25 percent in Queens and 23 percent in Brooklyn. Thirty-six people drowned, and at least a third of those who drowned at home were found in a basement or lived in a basement apartment. Two million homes and facilities lost power. The Health Department also reports a 200 percent increase in high tide flood days from 2000 to 2021, and says higher tides mean flooding can happen even when there is no severe weather.
Seawater is Category 3 water
The ANSI/IICRC S500 lists all forms of flooding from seawater among its examples of Category 3 water, defined as grossly contaminated and able to contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Surge brings that water in from outside, so it can reach above the basement. For Category 3 water, the S500 says remediation should happen before restorative drying, with contamination controls and worker protection, and the EPA advises a professional with experience cleaning buildings damaged by contaminated water. The CDC says drywall and insulation contaminated by floodwater are removed and discarded, and lists carpeting, carpet padding, mattresses and upholstered furniture among things to throw away when they cannot be cleaned or dried quickly.
Coming back after a flood
- Federal mold guidance says to wait to re-enter until professionals tell you it is safe, with no structural, electrical or other hazards.
- Do not enter a flooded basement while water is near outlets, the panel or appliances. Switch power off only from a dry place, and have an electrician check the system before the power goes back on.
- If you smell gas, the CDC says to turn off the main gas valve, open the windows and leave at once.
- Run generators only outside and at least 20 feet from the building. The EPA warns that carbon monoxide could kill you in minutes, and OSHA notes gas pumps give it off too.
- If you must enter floodwater, the CDC says to wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles. Keep children and pets out.
- Photograph everything, inside and out, before anything is moved or thrown out.
The cleanup order is on flood cleanup in Queens.
Flood zones, evacuation zones and insurance
Rockaway homes sit close to the water, so check whether your own address is in FEMA’s high-risk flood area, the Special Flood Hazard Area, defined by a 1 percent chance of flooding in any year; NYC notes that this means a 26 percent chance over the life of a 30-year mortgage. NYC’s flood maps pages show it address by address. Hurricane evacuation zones are a separate, numbered map, with zone 1 the most likely to flood; find yours with the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder or by calling 311.
FloodSmart says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage and only flood insurance covers rebuilding after a flood; a flood policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. FloodHelpNY says a renter’s belongings are not likely to be covered by renter’s insurance. Check your own policy or ask your agent.
Rain and sewer backups too
The Rockaways flood from rain as well as surge. DEP lists coastal flooding, when high tide and surge send tidal water back into the sewer system, alongside sewer backups in heavy rain. FloodHelpNY’s Residential Backwater Valve Installation Program has listed Rockaway East among its eligible communities; check FloodHelpNY for whether it is taking applications. See basement waterproofing.
Mold after the water
The EPA says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, which is hard after a surge. If mold follows, New York State requires an independent assessment for covered work and does not allow the same license holder to assess and remediate. See mold remediation in Queens.
Near the Rockaways
Across the bay: Howard Beach. Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway are both on the Queens neighborhoods page.
Water damage in Far Rockaway or anywhere on the peninsula? Send the form and an independent local restoration provider can contact you.
Questions people ask
Is Far Rockaway in a flood zone?
Flood zones are set address by address on FEMA’s maps. Check yours on NYC’s flood maps pages; your hurricane evacuation zone is a separate map, found with the Zone Finder or 311.
Is seawater in my house dangerous?
The IICRC S500 lists all forms of flooding from seawater as Category 3 water, which can carry harmful agents. Keep out of it unless you have rubber boots, gloves and goggles, as the CDC advises, and the EPA advises professionals for contaminated water.
Is this site a restoration company in The Rockaways?
No. Queens Water Damage Restoration is an independent referral service, not a restoration company. When you send the form, your details go to an independent local restoration provider serving Queens, who can contact you, inspect and quote any work directly. You decide whether to hire them.
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