Is Your Building Prepared for a Wind Event?

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Miami Technicians reviewing water damaged commercial facility.

Is Tropical Storm Eta heading towards the Coral Gables? - Prepared for a Wind Event?

Tropical Storm Eta is expected to miss Coral Gables, FL, however, powerful winds can cause significant damage to buildings and homes. Broken windows, leaks and residential roofs damaged or torn partially or completely off. 

Assessing Your Risks

While buildings are constructed to withstand strong winds, there are still steps that a building owner can do to ensure that your property does not suffer significant damage during a catastrophic wind event.

Downtown Miami including neighborhoods like Wynwood and Midtown Miami may experience high winds from Tropical Storm Eta which can cause damage to your property.

Protect Your Roof

Whether you are in a residential home or a commercial building you should conduct regular roof inspections. Examine the roof for any loose or missing materials or loose perimeter flashing. During a large wind event loose flashing can cause water to seep inside causing a potential interior flooding. When inspecting a commercial rooftop make sure there is no loose equipment and all entries and doors are secure.

Inspect Areas Surrounding Building 

Having lawn furniture, pool lounge chairs, planters can all become a wind hazard, so be sure to remove or secure anything that may become a projectile. Remove any loose items, or any other debris before high wind storms. You should consider replacing gravel or rock landscaping with shredded materials. Gravel landscaping materials are a major source of windborne debris and can cause significant damage as they can break unprotected windows.

Create and Test a Disaster Response Plan

Having a response plan in place will ensure that when a wind event occurs, you and your team will be prepared that the property will be protected. While many have a disaster response plan in place, it’s vital to also test the plan. Ensure that all staff is aware and educated about all wind-related procedures. You local SERVPRO of Wynwood can help you with setting up you plan with you own custom Emergency Ready Plan - ERP.

Be Prepared

The main takeaway is to be prepared before any wind event. By following the above tips and taking steps to secure your building, you can make sure that your building will be safe and protected from damage in the event of a catastrophic wind event and potential flood repair efforts.