Sandy Victims Opting To Put Homes On Stilts To Prevent Future Flooding
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - As residents on Long Island continue to clean up from superstorm Sandy, some homeowners are taking the drastic step of lifting their homes.
"If I had to live through another storm and if I didn't lift it, I don't think I would sleep well that night," Long Island resident Amy Whalen said, despite the fact that her home is a half a mile from the nearest body of water. "You think you're pretty far away, I didn't think I bought waterfront property at all."
Residents told Newsday the fear of another big storm has led them to invest in putting their homes on stilts.
Sandy Victims Opting To Put Homes On Stilts To Prevent Future Flooding
"The hurricane before - Irene - it came up to our door so we decided to elevate the house," a Lindenhurst resident said.
The woman said her home was inundated with three feet of water during Sandy.
"The new foundation will be five feet higher than the old foundation," a construction manager explained.
The project can cost between $80,000 and $100,000. Some homeowners said they are unclear about what type of damage is covered by FEMA or flood insurance.
Typically, insurance only covers a portion of the cost in lifting a home, WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported.
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