With winter approaching, homeowners on the East Coast should expect the occasional nor'easter. New England has already begun November with one such storm: This past weekend, high winds and snow pounded certain areas in the northeast, especially on the coast.
According to one local news broadcast, some coastal counties in Maine saw widespread power outages as a result of the weather.
"The heavy snow and strong winds knocked out power to more than 80 percent of the homes and businesses in some counties along the mid-coast. The severity of the damage and icy roads are adding to the difficulties facing crews in those areas," Central Maine Power spokesperson Gail Rice told ABC affiliate WMTW 8.
Meanwhile, areas in Massachusetts saw flooding, while numerous trees were knocked down, taking power lines with them. Much of the coast experienced a high wind warning of up to 50 miles per hour.
Though most of the damage reported was minor, it is important to remember that nor'easters can do significant damage to homes if the storms are strong enough. Flooding can damage foundations and cause erosion, which can weaken an entire structure. Strong winds can also damage homes, or knock trees onto property. Finally, heavy snow can cause damage to roofs if it is allowed to pile up too much.
Owners of both residential and commercial property must understand the risks that nor'easters pose and take steps to mitigate them. It helps for insurers to use a valuation system capable of providing accurate replacement cost estimates for diverse markets with a wide range of structure types.