After a hurricane, tropical storm or nor’easter, waterfront homeowners in Hampton Roads all ask the same questions: Is my dock safe? Is the bulkhead failing? Will insurance pay? This guide walks you through what to check, what can’t wait, and how to find a licensed local contractor for the repair.
1. Safety first
- Stay off a damaged pier or dock. Leaning pilings, missing boards or a sagging section can give way.
- Turn off power to the dock and boat lift at the breaker if anything was underwater or looks damaged, and leave it off until an electrician checks it. Water and dock wiring are a dangerous mix.
- Keep people and pets away from the edge of a damaged bulkhead. Soil behind it can wash out and leave hidden holes.
2. Document everything before you clean up
Take photos and video of all the damage from several angles, with something in the shot for scale. Note the date and the storm. If you have older photos showing the structure in good shape, find them now. Insurers, permit offices and contractors may all want to see that the structure was intact before the storm.
3. What to check
Piers and docks
- Pilings that lean, wobble, or have cracked or lifted
- Missing, loose or broken deck boards and railings
- Bent or missing bolts and brackets where sections connect
- Floating docks: broken connectors, damaged floats, stretched or snapped lines and anchors
Bulkheads and seawalls
- The wall leaning toward the water, or new gaps between boards or panels
- Sinkholes, soft spots or sunken areas in the yard behind the wall, a sign that soil is washing out underneath
- Damaged or exposed tie-backs, caps or whalers
Boat lifts
- Frayed or kinked cables, a lift that sits crooked, or a cradle that shifted
- Motors, switches or wiring that were underwater (leave the power off until checked)
Rip rap and natural shorelines
- Stone that has shifted or washed away, leaving bare soil exposed
- New steep cuts or collapsed sections along the bank
4. What can’t wait
Call a contractor right away if a bulkhead is leaning or losing soil behind it, a pier has pilings that moved, or there is any electrical damage. These problems get worse with every high tide and the next storm, and a small repair now can prevent a full replacement later. Loose boards, minor railing damage and cosmetic issues can usually wait for a scheduled repair.
5. Insurance after a hurricane: what most homeowners don’t know
- Federal flood insurance (NFIP) does not cover docks, piers, wharves or bulkheads.
- Many homeowners policies exclude flood, storm surge and rising water, the most common causes of hurricane damage to waterfront structures, though some cover wind damage or offer limited coverage for these structures.
- Call your insurance agent soon after the storm, describe the damage, and ask exactly what your policy covers. Specialty marine policies exist, so if you have no coverage, it is worth asking about before the next storm.
6. Permits for storm repairs
Rebuilding or replacing a pier, bulkhead or other shoreline structure in Virginia usually needs approval from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), your local wetlands board, or both. After major storms, VMRC has offered faster approval for replacing previously permitted structures in the same spot at the same size or smaller. In localities that use it, an emergency permit for shoreline protection must be applied for within 30 days of the storm, and the old structure must have been intact and working before the storm.
The rules depend on the structure, the damage and your locality, so check before rebuilding. Most experienced marine contractors handle the permits for you. Our permits guide explains the basics.
7. Hiring a contractor after a storm
- Be wary of door knockers and out-of-town crews who show up after a hurricane or major storm. Local contractors will be here next year if something goes wrong.
- Check the license. Every listing on 757 Waterfront shows the contractor’s Virginia license as the state lists it. See how to check a license yourself.
- Get a written estimate that spells out the work, materials and who handles permits.
- Don’t pay the full amount up front. A reasonable deposit is normal; payment in full before work starts is a red flag.
Find a contractor for storm repairs
By type of repair: Docks and piers · Bulkheads and seawalls · Boat lifts · Rip rap and shoreline · Dock electrical
By city: Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk · Portsmouth · Suffolk · Smithfield · Hampton · Newport News · Poquoson · Yorktown · Williamsburg · Gloucester · Mathews · Middlesex
This guide is general information, not insurance, legal or engineering advice. Coverage and permit rules vary, so confirm with your insurer, VMRC or your local wetlands board. Sources: Maryland Insurance Administration on NFIP coverage of piers, docks and bulkheads; Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC20-345; VMRC storm replacement guidance.