How Somerset Continues to Define Diversity and Growth, even after Flooding

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

Somerset gets storm damage relief, quickly, when our SERVPRO Green Fleet arrives

Somerset has become an attractive place to settle down for those looking to escape bigger city feels.

The outer-lying metropolitan areas of New York City and Newark, NJ, have created some desirable communities like Somerset. Without the more prominent city feel that you can find even in nearby New Brunswick with its population nearing 60,000, this municipality only has roughly 22,000 residents. Diversity is a selling point of this growing community, which is showcased in multiple ways.

The Ideal Placement for a Community

As part of the Greater New York City Metropolitan area, the anchor city is accessible through multiple routes leading out of Somerset County. Because of the manageable commute, many have found this southern portion of the county as a suitable place to settle down. Compared to the high cost of living in NYC, many have found the advantages of a lower expected living expense in neighboring New Jersey.

With many areas like New Brunswick and Newark also a short drive from Somerset, many residents do not have to leave the state for gainful employment. While it does not have the millions of residents NYC does, Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, with an estimated population of more than 280,000. Seeking more affordable residences in the outer lying communities within a 40-minute commute of the city can be a wise financial decision and has helped Somerset County get considered among the wealthiest counties in the United States.

An Array of Educational Opportunities

You might think that just the proximity to larger metropolitan areas might be a selling point enough for accessing some of the nation's top universities and colleges, but Somerset County also has many accredited and respected institutions. Not only do you have the esteemed Rutgers University in nearby New Brunswick, but many young adults are also seeking education closer to their Somerset homes through schools like:

• Raritan Valley Community College
• Strayer University
• Drew University
• Pillar College
• Fairleigh Dickinson University

While the diversity of the post-secondary education is extensive throughout Somerset and neighboring Passaic County, the foundation of this begins with a school system boasting several thousand students between 5 elementary schools, an intermediate school, and Franklin High School. The elementary schools focus on core curriculums with a greater lean on the arts, sciences, and other crafts. With each of these magnet elementary schools featuring specialized courses and curriculum, many students grasp STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and art programs before reaching the next educational tiers.

Overcoming Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Events

As much as homeowners in the area prefer avoiding circumstances like flooding, the likelihood of severe weather coming in from the nearby bays and outlets to the ocean is too great to ignore. With flooding being a present threat for many of the region's properties due to much of Somerset being designated in flood-prone areas, residents must prepare for these possibilities with the right response after emergencies. Beyond the preventative measures that can get taken in the house and to the exterior, flood awareness and cleanup becomes the responsibility of competent local restoration teams.

After devastating weather disasters like Hurricane Floyd in 1999 that left as much as 12 feet of water in the downtown areas, the municipality got to work on flood-control projects that made later disastrous events less devastating than they might have otherwise been. While area homes might always have to contend with the possibilities of brutal storms in different portions of the year, storms like Hurricanes Floyd and Sandy, while devastating, do not happen often. Much like city officials implementing the latest flood-prevention equipment and approaches, our SERVPRO professionals also stay prepared to help in these situations with powerful extractors, cleaning methods, and available resources for our friends and neighbors in the communities we serve.

A Stepping Stone for a Different Country

Cultural diversity is another way that Somerset is unique to many other immediate regions of the state and Greater New York City Metropolitan area. With NYC being among the most diverse assortments of cultures, religions, races, and creeds in the entire world, it is no great surprise that much of this melting pot has extended beyond the borough's borders to neighboring regional locations Passaic County and Somerset County in New Jersey.

While there are thousands of students in the public school system throughout southeast Somerset County and the namesake community, hundreds of these students take courses to learn English as a second language. There are dozens of second languages enrolled students can speak, ranging from Spanish and Arabic to Cantonese and Indian. In recent years, the high school was entirely reconstructed to accommodate a growing number of students in a 50-million-dollar project.

Storm Damage and Flooding Cleanup Services

Because of how quickly damaging storm events can develop from the bays like Sandy Hook beneath New York City to other major water bodies like the Raritan River, storm damages are not improbable. Having efficient stormwater removal for Somerset homes begins with a fast and reliable response to emergencies by our SERVPRO team. We have extensive training and education for our technicians to begin mitigation efforts as soon as we arrive.

Preparations for storm losses begin with pre-stocked READY trailers at our centrally located facility. Because standing water is among the direst circumstances for area homes, we prioritize extraction tools and practices in our earliest mitigation stages. Upon arrival, we can determine the type of floodwater present and the appropriate water removal tools to eliminate pooling. Depending on this collected information, extraction can involve any of several tools, including:

• Submersible pumps
• Self-priming trash pumps
• Weighted extractors
• Light wands
• Wet vacuums

Because we have a roster of in-house contractors along with our responding technicians, we can perform several emergency services upon arrival. Specific actions like controlled demolition and pre-restoration repairs can protect more of the property when completed in the earliest mitigation phase.

Removing stormwater or flooding from your home requires industry-leading equipment and experienced, certified technicians like our SERVPRO of Southeast Somerset County team. Give us a call today at (908) 251-9097.