Because it happened to be raised for maintenance work, devecka-Rinear’s home on a tiny island in Stafford Township, New Jersey, escaped damage during Superstorm Sandy. Image Credit: NPR
A New Jersey family home bought in 1929 has survived generations of change, but rising flood risks eventually forced its owner to rethink how it could be preserved. Raising Devecka-Rinear’s home to nearly 13 feet above sea level eventually cost more than $140,000, according to NPR. Because it had been temporarily raised for construction work, located on Cedar Bonnet Island beside Barnegat Bay, the house narrowly escaped damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Because the community’s position beside the bay offers limited natural protection, stafford Township, however, has encouraged residents to elevate their houses. The township has therefore considered broader improvements, including raising vulnerable roads and replacing sewer systems.
Devecka-Rinear saw the consequences close to home when her father’s neighbouring house was damaged so severely that it had to be demolished and rebuilt, NPR reported. That unexpected escape prompted Amanda Devecka-Rinear to take a closer look at the building’s vulnerability. Rather than risk losing a property filled with family memories, she decided to raise it permanently. Sandy caused extensive damage along the Jersey Shore, leaving many homeowners facing expensive repairs or the loss of their properties. The work required substantial financial planning, and securing assistance did not mean that the project would be easy to afford. New Jersey has pursued several measures to reduce flood damage since Sandy. These include strengthening dunes and buying properties in particularly vulnerable areas. A road elsewhere on the island had already been elevated to help residents travel without driving through floodwater. Devecka-Rinear later became involved with the New Jersey Organizing Project, a nonprofit that advocates for people affected by storms. Her experience helped shape her interest in making disaster recovery and home-protection assistance more accessible.
