By Art Hance, President of Hance Construction
WASHINGTON, N.J. (August 25, 2011) - Many of you are aware the National Weather Service is forecasting the potential for "Extreme Impacts" to the Northeast United States. Current hurricane tracks are showing a slight westward movement, which would tend to support that view.
While we do not wish to be alarmists and we look forward to waking Monday with the storm passing well to our East, we hope all our clients and associates will take the warnings seriously and prepare for a significant weather event.
As we have in the past with extreme winter storms, we caution building owners to take certain steps in preparing for Hurricane Irene:
- Make certain all items that could become airborne are secured or stored indoors. Flying debris can penetrate walls, damage roofs or break glass. Those located in coastal or other areas where extreme winds are predicted, should consider shuttering or boarding up doors and windows.
- Close and lock all doors, particularly non-latching doors with closures, overhead and roll up doors. Doors left open could cause roof or wall system failures during extreme wind conditions.
- Check gutters, downspouts and other storm drainage features. Clogged gutters can cause roof and wall leaks while debris in catch basins or outflow structures can cause flooding.
- If time permits, repair any loose siding or roofing which may become further dislodged in wind conditions.
- Make sure any emergency generators or fire water pumps are fueled and ready for service as widespread power outages could be expected.
- Do not attempt repairs to a structure during the storm! High winds, flying debris and lightning are not conditions to be working in.
For further information on preparing your facility or personal property and family for Hurricane Irene please visit the National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov or other Internet resources.
We do hope this turns out to be a "practice run" and Irene will blow off to the East. If you have any questions or need assistance, you may reach out to us via email, phone or texting (908) 612-4145.
Arthur Hance is President of Hance Construction, Inc., an Authorized Butler Builder® serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Hance Construction is one of the most experienced metal contractors in the country, providing turnkey services from approvals and design through construction. A 30-year veteran of the industry, Hance is President-Elect of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Metal Building Contractors & Erectors Association (MBCEA), a non-profit organization that is the industry's recognized leader in safe and professional construction of metal structures. To learn more about Hance Construction, please visit www.hanceconstruction.com or call (908) 835-3501.