Sandy in 2012, Isaias in 2020 and Ida in 2021 each tested northern New Jersey roofs in a different way. Sandy brought hurricane-force gusts to the New York area, Isaias brought wind and fallen trees, and Ida brought heavy rain and flooding. The lessons concern wind, water and inspection, not one repeated failure.
Key takeaways
- Sandy made landfall in southern New Jersey on October 29, 2012, with hurricane-force gusts in the New York area; no Newark gust figure is established here.
- Isaias, on August 4, 2020, prompted a tornado warning from the National Hurricane Center for northern New Jersey, and reports described fallen trees in towns from Morristown to Maplewood.
- The remnants of Ida on September 1, 2021 brought heavy rain, flooding and a statewide emergency; the tornado confirmed in New Jersey was an EF-3 at Mullica Hill, far from Newark.
- Wind damage shows as lifted or missing coverings and displaced flashing, while water damage often shows as staining and leaks that appear days after the storm.
- After any storm, check from the ground, then from inside the top floor, and record what you see before anything is repaired.
What did Superstorm Sandy do to roofs around Newark?
Superstorm Sandy made landfall in southern New Jersey on October 29, 2012, with hurricane-force gusts in the New York area. The research does not give a Newark gust figure or a roof-damage count, so this page describes the kind of damage rather than its scale.
Sandy arrived in late October and reached New Jersey from the coast. Its strongest effects were on the shore and in the New York area, but wind and water reached the whole region. A roof that had been sound for years could lose coverings or flashing in a single night of gusts, and the damage was often found only after the next rain.
The recovery left a mark on building rules. A 2013 construction advisory item reported, in a secondary account, that re-roofing permits were suspended after Sandy to speed recovery. That shows how many roofs were affected, but it is not a count, and the rules that applied then are not necessarily the rules that apply now.
For a Newark building, the lesson from Sandy concerns edges and fastenings. Wind lifts the edge first, and the edge is where flashing, coping and gutters are fixed. A roof whose edges were checked after the storm is a better model than one whose surface was looked at only from the pavement.
What did Tropical Storm Isaias do in August 2020?
Isaias crossed the region on August 4, 2020. The National Hurricane Center warned of tornadoes over northern New Jersey, and reports described trees down in towns from Morristown to Maplewood. No Newark gust or roof-damage count is established, so the lesson concerns trees and wind.
Isaias was a late-summer tropical storm, and its wind was the main concern for the north of the state. The tornado warning covered parts of northern New Jersey, and the storm's bands brought gusts strong enough to bring trees down across the area.
A fallen tree is a roof problem even when it does not reach the roof. A limb that strikes a ridge or a dormer can lift a covering, and a tree falling across a driveway can damage a gutter that carries water away from the foundation. After Isaias, the question for most roofs was whether a limb had struck the surface or the edge.
Tree damage also hides a second problem. Once a tree is removed, the area it covered is open to sun and wind, and a covering that was already loose can lift in the next gust. A check after the cleanup takes only a few minutes and is worth doing.
What did the remnants of Ida leave behind in 2021?
The remnants of Hurricane Ida on September 1, 2021 brought heavy rain, flooding and a statewide emergency. A secondary summary calls Newark Airport's rainfall a daily record, which should be checked against the National Weather Service, and the EF-3 tornado confirmed in New Jersey was at Mullica Hill.
Ida's remnants were a rain event first. Heavy rain fell across the region on September 1, 2021, and the flooding reached low-lying areas along the rivers and the roads. For a roof, the lesson concerns water. A flat roof with slow drains holds water, a pitched valley overflows, and a flashing that was marginal fails under a sustained downpour.
Be careful with the tornado. The EF-3 tornado that the National Weather Service confirmed in New Jersey from that storm was at Mullica Hill in Gloucester County, well away from Newark. This page does not describe Ida as a Newark tornado, and anyone who says it was should be asked for the record.
Leaks from Ida often appeared days later as staining, softened plaster and a damp smell on the top floor. A roof that leaked during the storm is easy to find. One that leaked slowly and then dried out needs a look at the deck and the attic, where the old water mark is still visible.
What does wind damage look like on a roof?
Wind damage usually shows first at edges, corners, ridges and anywhere flashing is fixed. Lifted or creased coverings, displaced flashing and gutters pulled from the fascia are the signs to record, along with any debris that has struck the surface.
Wind lifts the most exposed parts of a roof. On a pitched roof that means the ridge, the eaves and the corners, where the covering is least held down. On a flat roof it means the edge, the parapet and the coping, where a loose piece can peel back and let water in.
Look for coverings that are creased, torn or missing, flashing that has pulled away from a wall or chimney, and gutters that sag or have come loose from the fascia. A crease that has not split may still let water through the next time it rains, so note it even if it does not look dramatic.
Ask the crew to show you the damage rather than only describe it. A dated photograph of the ridge, the edge or the chimney is more useful than a verbal account, and it helps any later discussion about the cause of the damage.
What should you check after a storm?
Check the roof from the ground first, looking for missing coverings, bent flashing and debris. Then check the top-floor ceilings and walls, the attic and the gutters. Record what you see, date it, and do not repair anything before the record is made.
Start from the ground, using binoculars or a phone camera, and look at the ridge, the edges and the chimney. Walk the perimeter and look at the gutters and downspouts. This check is safe and takes minutes, and it does not require anyone to climb onto the roof.
Move inside next. Look at the ceilings and walls of the top floor for new stains, bubbled paint or soft plaster. Check the attic if you can reach it safely, looking at the underside of the deck for dark patches or damp insulation. Water that dried over a few days can still leave a mark.
Photograph everything before any repair and keep the images with their dates. If a repair is needed, ask the crew for a written scope. The storm damage roof repair and wind damage shingle repair services describe what gets checked and how it is handled.
How do the storm seasons compare?
The storms in this guide cluster in two windows: early August to early September, when Isaias and Ida came through, and late October, when Sandy arrived. The seasons are an anchor for planning, not a forecast of what a given year will bring.
Two of the three storms in this guide fell in the late-summer window from early August to early September. Tropical systems from the south often reach the region then, and their rain can arrive before or after the wind. A roof inspected before that season is in a better position than one that has not been looked at.
Sandy came in late October. A storm that late in the year reaches a roof that has already been through the summer, so the condition of flashing and edges matters more than it does in August. An inspection before the autumn rains is a sensible routine.
Winter is a different threat, covered in the roof maintenance calendar. Freezing and thawing do their damage slowly, which is why a storm checklist is not the only inspection a roof needs.
How should you keep a record of storm damage?
Keep one dated file for each storm, with photographs from the ground, notes from the inside check and any invoices for temporary protection. A file started at the time of the storm is far more persuasive later than one rebuilt from memory.
Start the file on the day you check the roof. Name each photograph with its date and a short location note, such as the north gutter or the chimney seen from the street. A phone usually stamps the date on an image, but a written note adds the place and the reason the picture was taken.
Add the inside record to the same file: the room, the stain, its approximate size and whether it is new since the last check. Note what the weather was doing when you saw it. A simple table with date, location and observation is enough, and it stops small problems being forgotten when the next storm arrives.
Keep receipts for any temporary protection, such as a tarp, temporary sealing or a call-out fee. The file then shows what was done to limit the damage, when it was done and what it cost. Whether any of that is recovered depends on your own arrangements and your policy, so keep the record whatever the outcome.
Why does the timing of a storm check matter?
A check soon after a storm separates new damage from old wear, because wear builds over years while storm damage appears suddenly. Waiting weeks lets the weather change the evidence and makes it harder to say which storm caused what.
A freshly lifted covering has clean edges and loose granules in the gutter. An older one has dirt packed into the lift and weathered edges. Those differences are easy to read in the first days and much harder after a season of rain and sun. A prompt check is the simplest way to keep the two apart.
Water works the same way. A new stain on a ceiling has a sharp edge and is often still damp at its centre. An old stain has a tide line and is dry to the touch. Recording the stain's edge and its moisture early tells you whether it arrived with the storm or was already there.
If you cannot check promptly, say so in the file. An honest note that the roof was looked at a week later, with weather in between, is far more useful than a tidy record that cannot be trusted.
Frequently asked questions
Was Newark hit by a tornado during Ida?
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-3 tornado in New Jersey at Mullica Hill in Gloucester County, far from Newark. Ida's effect on Newark was mainly heavy rain and flooding.
Should I climb onto the roof after a storm?
Not after heavy wind or rain. Check from the ground and from inside first, and have a technician do any close inspection. A wet or damaged roof surface can be unsafe to stand on.
How soon should a storm check happen?
As soon as it is safe, and before the next rain if you can manage it. Water that enters during a storm can keep moving through the following days, so the inside check matters as much as the outside one.
Does this guide give Newark gust speeds?
No. The research did not establish Newark gust figures for these storms, so none is printed here. Regional figures that exist are not measurements taken in Newark.
Who decides whether storm damage is covered?
Your insurance policy and your insurer decide coverage. The claims guide sets out the general pattern and names the state regulator for complaints.
Sources
This guide is general information for Essex County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.