How to Prepare Your Building for Hurricane Season
Four Things to Know Before Disaster Strikes
Most building owners have a plan for when tropical storms strike, but even the best plans can fail to protect your building because of a simple oversight. While you have likely taken steps to prepare your facility, there are specific tasks that are often overlooked. Planning accordingly for hurricane season can save your company time, money, and resources, as well as give you peace of mind.
According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the number of disaster events has continued to climb worldwide since the 1970s and is projected to increase 40% by 2030. This upward trend is the same in terms of direct economic loss with a loss of $325 billion in 2017 alone. With the cause inevitably growing, preparing your building to lessen the effect is the smartest thing you can do.
Understand Your Building’s Risks
Coastal areas in Florida are among the most at risk for hurricane damage due to sea level rise and inland flooding. As hurricanes become more frequent and intense, the threat to buildings in these areas continues to grow. Despite efforts to reinforce structures, the impact of storms on vulnerable buildings can be devastating. It's not just Florida's Atlantic coast that is at risk, as the Gulf coast and other states along the Eastern seaboard face similar dangers. Even the Pacific coast is not immune to the risks of hurricane damage, making it imperative that building owners and managers proactively plan for large weather events like this.
Even if you are already familiar with your building’s insurance policy, call your provider to clarify the terms and double-check that the following types of damage are covered. If they are not, be certain to follow up and have your policy revised to mitigate risks moving forward.
Building Envelope Damage
The building envelope is a building’s “shell” or exterior of compounded layers that protect it against nature’s elements. It is a complex system that combines air pressure boundaries, moisture control, temperature control, and structural integrity into a single design. Starting at the foundation and reaching up the walls to the roof, a building envelope’s purpose is to keep out external forces such as humidity, rain, and groundwater.
If a building envelope fails, damages that can occur include:
Poor indoor climate control
Mold, mildew, wood-rot
Rust and corrosion
Spread of harmful pathogens
Flooded basements
Collapsed roofing
Bodily injury or death
Along with several other structural issues that could result from a hurricane, any preexisting issues in your building can severely affect a facility’s ability to operate effectively after a storm. Some contributing factors to these failures are:
Defective design
Materials used in construction
Shoddy workmanship
Extreme lateral forces i.e. hurricanes, earthquakes, floods
Regular building maintenance and inspections can proactively identify issues with your building envelope that need to be addressed before they turn into bigger problems later from hurricane damage.
Water Damage
The severity of flood damage can be categorized into three groups based on the level of contaminants detected in samples taken from an affected site. Due to potential mold and mildew growth, the release of harmful pathogens, and overall poor indoor air quality, all three can lead to negative effects on one’s health. Below are the categories of water damage to be aware of:
Category 1 – Clean water damage
Category 2 – Dirty water damage
Category 3 – Black water damage
With water damage being the main culprit behind a weakened and compromised infrastructure, it is wise to take any steps possible to save your building from a worst-case scenario situation. This includes routinely checking that all drainage systems in place are functioning at full capacity, testing your building’s sump pump at least once a year, and keeping an eye out for leaks to repair them before they have a chance to worsen during weather events.
Roof Damage
Along with the regular wear and tear that takes place over the years, external forces can cause more immediate and visible damage to a roof. High winds and heavy rains can result in extensive damage to a roof’s membrane, flashings, pipe boots, vent stacks, rooftop equipment, and overall integrity. This can open your building up to a multitude of other issues due to further climate exposure.
Many experts suggest these ways to lessen the extent of roof damage:
Routinely keep an eye out for any leaks, wet spots, or stains and repair as needed
Have your roofing inspected by a professional, ideally right before hurricane season to address any concerns with deteriorated termination bar attachments, loose rooftop equipment fasteners, and cracks in membrane overlap joints among other conditions
Remove any loose debris from roof surfaces, that could turn into "wind missiles"
Fallen Trees
To ensure safety during a storm surge, it is crucial to address any dead trees adjacent to your building. This situation poses a significant risk and should be treated as a hazard. If the tree is deceased, it is advisable to remove it entirely so it will not cause any major damage to your building or nearly power lines. For living trees, it is recommended to prune any dead branches and trim back those that extend over the roof. Additionally, clearing fallen tree limbs and removing any debris or objects that may pose a threat are of utmost importance.
Prepare Your Building for the Storm
Now that you are aware of the four common risks presented, you can begin readying your building to take on a storm and its aftermath. There are four things you should do to prepare—create an emergency response plan, establish lines of communication, routinely maintain your building, and reinforce the interior. These will make the difference between your building weathering the storm or washing away with it.
1) Create an Emergency Response Plan
Time is of the essence when responding to an emergency. Before hurricane season begins, it is important to create a list of reliable vendors who are prepared to assist with emergency response efforts if needed. This list should include industrial hygienists, contractors, electricians, plumbers, etc. Make sure each vendor is aware that they are on call for emergency response. Your emergency response plan should include:
A list of professionals that can provide emergency response efforts
Procedures for building evacuation
2) Establish Lines of Communication
Communicate in advance with all parties, internal and external, involved in your emergency response plan. In the event an emergency occurs, keep the lines of communication open and flowing between everyone. Discuss your plan and expectations, as well as who will be your point of contact in advance, so they are ready to hit the ground running when you call. In emergencies, quick response time and effective, ongoing communication through all channels are imperative to getting your facility back up and running. Establishing lines of communication includes:
A lead point of contact for the emergency response efforts
Reminders for staff of all hurricane-related policies and procedures
Instructions for essential employees of their specific roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency
3) Routinely Maintain Your Building
Routine building maintenance is crucial to preventing extensive storm damage. Repairing a minor issue now can keep you from dealing with a major issue later. Remember to do the following for your building throughout the year:
Clean gutters, roof drains, scuppers, and/or downspouts
Trim trees and shrubbery
Inspect the roof and building envelope for openings that would allow water to infiltrate
Check site drainage pathways for clogs and/or obstructions
Review surge and lightning protection
Have a working generator that is sized appropriately for your building and a large enough fuel supply to continue operations for at least 72 hours
4) Reinforce Your Building as a Storm Approaches
Strengthening the interior becomes imperative in anticipation of potential impacts. Here are some recommendations to effectively prepare the interior of your building:
Board up glass doors and windows
Disconnect non-essential electrical devices; turn off power if possible
Move equipment and furniture away from windows
Relocate critical files and equipment to the innermost rooms of the building
Shut down non-critical building systems
Make sure key employees know the processes and procedures to follow
“When approaching an emergency response, speed and communication are key. The quicker you can get onsite, the better chances you have of minimizing the damage and bringing services back online."
—Rich Crim, GHP’s Vice President of Project Operations
After the Hurricane Passes: Responding to Storm Damage
Once the storm has cleared, a designated emergency response team can assess the facility for any property damage. These individuals will help identify any structural damage or hazards that may need to be addressed.If all the necessary steps and precautions have been taken, the building should be prepared for a successful emergency response, ensuring a prompt return to normal operations.