How did your projects out in Eastern Long Island fare?

Stuart: Thankfully, just fine. Our waterfront projects are always FEMA compliant which proved to be more than adequate. In addition, New York requires two feet of additional height depending on the flood zone. The additional floor elevation in Connecticut above FEMA is set on a town-by-town basis.

And homes on Long Island Sound?

Mac: We just completed a stunning shingle style house on the water in Rye and it was just fine. No landscaping was damaged either. All our other projects were fine as well. FEMA building codes and floodplain mapping worked for Sandy's extreme weather. One of our houses on the water in Riverside has a mechanical room built like a boat with an impervious rubber membrane and it worked as advertised.

Assuming a waterfront property is viable, how difficult is it to prepare for the extreme types of weather patterns?

Stuart: For homeowners who are concerned about possible flooding, it is cheaper to raise a building than one might think. The cost is about 75% of a new foundation. The process calls for lifting the structure and adding to the foundation. Additional costs include disconnecting and reconnecting electricity, plumbing, etc. which often evolve to reevaluating all the mechanical systems. Some of the cost is absorbed with savings in insurance premiums which go down when a house is built above the Base Floodline Elevation (BFE).

What about other recommendations?

Stuart: A proper generator is key. At a minimum we specify a 1,000 gallon propane tank to power a generator for long-term outages. The minimum requirement is that the generator powers the boiler and fan coil, refrigeration and some lights. The generator needs to be set above the FEMA floodline. Larger systems handle security and additional electricity needs.

Mac: High quality doors, windows, hardware and shutters are better able to manage extreme water and wind conditions. Also essential are good flashing systems, properly installed and flashed windows and doors and well installed infiltration systems underneath siding. What's needed in short are cohesive systems that keep out rain and wind.

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2013, the firm is restoring and renovating the Quogue Inn in Quogue, New York. The most visible design change is the restoration of the Inn's original gracious front porches. The Inn includes a 156-seat dining room and bar, 10 guest rooms with baths within the existing structure, sitting areas, a library, a living room and several multi-purpose rooms. The basement level spaces include a fitness room, bathrooms and office.