Know your water
Nor'easters stall offshore and push water for days across multiple high tides — different from a hurricane's single surge. In Virginia Beach, watch the Lynnhaven River gauges and Back Bay levels; Great Neck Road and Shore Drive flood first. In Norfolk, the Elizabeth River at the Hague and Ocean View's bayfront streets go early. Chesapeake's low-lying Deep Creek and Great Bridge pond from rainfall faster than tides arrive.
The 48-hour checklist
- Sump pump: test it — pour 5 gallons in the pit and confirm it pumps and the discharge runs clear of the foundation. Battery backup if you lose power (you will).
- Backflow valve: if you're in a backup-prone area (Ocean View, Portsmouth, older Norfolk), a backwater valve is the single best investment. Installed before the storm, not during.
- Crawl space: check the vapor barrier, clear foundation vents of debris, confirm the dehumidifier drains.
- Exterior: clear gutters and storm drains on your property, secure outdoor items, move vehicles to high ground before barricades go up.
- Inside: elevate valuables, roll up rugs on ground floors, photograph every room (insurance baseline), charge phones, fill the tub.
- Documents: insurance declarations page, flood policy number if you carry NFIP, and our number — (757) 555-0134 — in your phone now, not when the power's out.
When water's coming in anyway
Kill power to affected areas at the breaker. Don't wade through water near outlets. Move what you can upstairs and let the rest go — stuff is replaceable, and fighting rising water is how people get hurt. Call us when it's safe: post-storm is our busiest week of the year, and the queue is first-called, first-served.
After the storm
Don't wait for things to dry — in our humidity they won't before mold starts. Photograph everything before cleanup, keep damaged materials for the adjuster, and get extraction scheduled within 24 hours. That's the difference between a drying job and a mold-remediation-plus-drying job.
Frequently asked
When is nor'easter season in Hampton Roads?
October through April, peaking December–March — the opposite of hurricane season, which is why locals prep twice a year.
Should I get flood insurance if I'm not in a high-risk zone?
A third of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones, and Hampton Roads' flat terrain ponds anywhere. NFIP preferred-risk policies are cheap — ask your agent.
What's the single best flood investment for a Virginia Beach home?
A tested sump pump with battery backup for groundwater, plus a backwater valve if you're in a backup-prone area. Both cost less than one emergency visit.