Hurricane Irene Grows Stronger Taking Aim at US East Coast
Emergency officials are quickening the pace in the southeastern US as Hurricane Irene is forecast to become a massive storm which could make landfall in the United States by the weekend. Irene is intensifying as it churns in a northwesterly direction over the warm waters of the Caribbean. All along the East Coast, residents are boarding up and packing up in preperation of the storm system. Communities in Boston, Washington DC, and down the Coast to Norfolk and Virginia Beach are on high alert.
The eastern portion of North Carolina is looking to be a possible parking spot for Irene. This hurricane is the first of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season which formed early Monday. The storm was upgraded to a Category 2 by Monday night. Forecasters say that Irene can grow to become a Category 3 storm with winds over 130 miles per hour before it hits land in the United States and it could turn into a Category 4 when it does get close to land. Ike was the last hurricane to reach landfall US in 2008 when it thrashed Texas.
The National Hurricane Center predicts that Irene will make landfall late Saturday or early Sunday around the Wilmington, North Carolina. If Irene does move a bit eastward, it could hit the Outer Banks hard which means either way, the residents of North Carolina need to keep on their toes because it will be a very serious weather situation. If the storm does hit North Carolina, heavy winds, flooding and coastal storm surges are very likely. State work crews are making sure that emergency equipment is in good order. They are also seeing to it that there is enough food and water on hand which may be necessary to pass out to evacuated residents living in the hardest-hit areas.
If the current forecast holds, Hurricane Irene can nearly match the destructive force of Hurricane Hugo which made landfall north of Charleston, NC in 1989 with wind speeds in excess of 130 mph. Over two dozen North Carolina residents lost their lives in the storm and it did over $17 billion worth of damage to the state. The storm is now predicted to impact households from North Carolina to Boston Massachusetts. The major storm has over 40 million properties in its cross hairs, and could cause millions of dollars in damages.
People living in the southern portion of North Carolina are being urged to secure their properties and to come up with family emergency plans for family members and pets. At least three days worth of canned food and water should be readied. An emergency kit containing medications, first aide supplies, flashlight, radio, batteries and cell phone should also be put together.
Hurricane Damages to High Rise Buildings- Are You Safe?
Hurricanes can wreak havoc to properties- from residential, commercial, and even government structures, especially if the foundations are not strong enough or not capable of withstanding high winds and flooding. Although the easiest ones to be affected by hurricanes are properties with low elevation and small to medium-sized structures, high rise buildings can also be severely damaged.
Based on the information provided by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, here is an approximation of hurricane damages to high rise buildings. This data is based on previous hurricane experiences.
Category 1
This hurricane level does not really trigger significant damage to property and only very dangerous winds can bring about some damage. Poorly constructed buildings will most likely lose roofing and sidings. Moreover, it is likely that windows in high rise structures will be broken due to flying hard objects.
Category 2
At 96-110 mph, a category 2 hurricane can damage a substantial percentage of roofing and siding. But since high rise buildings have properly reinforced walls, it is not likely to trigger any structure collapse. The most that it can do is break building windows because of flying debris.
Category 3
At this level, it is possible to bring about devastating damage. A good example would be Hurricane Ivan, which occurred in 2004 and damaged a vast number of high rise condominiums along the coastal areas. The damage was due mostly to the water surge rather than the strong winds.
Category 4
This category level can trigger catastrophic damage. The most affected would be residential homes and road infrastructures however hurricane damages to high rise buildings are also significant. Expect building windows to be blown away; roofing and top floors will also be substantially affected; and basement and ground floors will be flooded.
Category 5
There have only been three category 5 hurricanes recorded in the United States in more than a century. The latest one was Hurricane Andrew, which caused grave damage to various areas in Florida. High rise offices, hotels, and residences were not spared and suffered irreparable damage.
Safety for High Rise Buildings During Hurricanes
Property owners and building tenants should have a reputable engineering firm inspect their building to check its safety and if it can withstand the strong winds and surges brought about by hurricanes. There should be guidelines on people’s safety and vehicle safety, along with emergency backup power. There should likewise be a pre-determined safety area for building occupants to go to in the event that a hurricane occurs.
Residents and tenants of high rise buildings can also devise safety measures. First, they should know the emergency exits. They should be aware of the building’s evacuation plan. Hurricane-prone areas should already be equipped building features necessary to reduce the hurricane damages to high rise buildings. And lastly, never use the elevator in the event that an intense tropical cyclone hits the building.
Clean-up Efforts Underway after Boston Flooding
Cleanup is underway throughout the greater Boston area after heavy rain flooded many streets and damaged homes and businesses. The storm which moved into the area on Saturday forced the closure of numerous roads, including Route 28 in Somerville where an off-duty fireman fought to rescue a woman who was caught in rapidly rising flood water in an underpass.
The fire fighter who rescued the woman said that he was coming out of a nearby party store when he looked to the right and saw a lot of water emerging from manholes. He then noticed a woman waving her arms. He put on his gear and ran down the embankment. He jumped into the cold, dirty water and swam over to her. A life ring was thrown into the water and the woman was pulled to safety. A dive team from the State Police searched four other submerged cars to see if anyone was trapped inside but luckily everyone had escaped. Thirteen of the state troopers had to go to a local hospital to become decontaminated because raw sewage was leaking into the flood water.
Although no one was severely injured, there is a lot of cleaning up to do. The Somerville police were forced to move their place of operation to a sub-station because of heavy flood waters. The police department lost at least three vehicles to the water damage and is having fifteen to eighteen cars and eight motorcycles cleaned and dried out after they suffered extensive damage. Part of the roof caved in a the Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro when a pipe broke as a result of the pouring rain.
Road workers were using pumps to clear a portion of Storrow Drive in Boston and Mass. Bay Transportation Authority spokesman Joe Pesatura said that the Fitchburg line of the commuter train track was closed after water flooded the tracks in Somerville. Due to the train track flooding, passengers were taken by bus to nearby subway lines.
The greater Boston area had been very dry prior to the heavy rain that moved into the area over the weekend. The hard, dry ground simply could not soak in the rain quickly enough, making the rain cause flash flooding that very few residents were prepared for. The only positive aspect to the storm was the fact that the temperatures cooled down from a recent stretch of temps well above 90 degrees.
Jarvis in Nashville TN assisting with flood cleanup
A leading national disaster response company is now in the Nashville Tennessee area to assist with flooding cleanup. Jarvis Property Restoration of Harrison Township Michigan is a company that specializes in responding to large catastrophes caused by storm damage. First responders from Jarvis Disaster Recovery team were dispatched on Sunday, May 2nd to Nashville following a weekend of severe weather that caused unprecedented flooding to many communities in Southern Tennessee.
Jarvis Property Restoration first responders played a pivotal role in helping to assist with flood cleanup in the New England area following devastating flooding to Rhode Island and Boston in early March of this year. Jarvis presently has fourteen work crews and several semi-trucks of equipment in the Nashville area and has additional work crew’s en-route to assist with cleanup efforts. Jarvis water damage technicians are certified through the IICRC and utilize state of the art restoration equipment to extract flood waters and begin the process of drying out a property.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen called for a state of emergency over the weekend in order to pull in resources from the National Guard. The severe rain caused flash flooding, forcing hundreds of people to need emergency evacuation from homes and vehicles. Rain storms pounded the state with as much as fourteen inches of rain in certain areas washing away numerous roads throughout Tennessee. The governor has closed all government offices and schools on Monday, and has urged for businesses and municipalities to close to help ensure public safety. Many rivers were not expected to crest until late on Monday and the potential for rain later in the week will make cleanup efforts more challenging.
Jarvis Property Restoration has worked extensively in disaster relief, specifically in FEMA declared emergency zones. In the summer of 2008, Jarvis managed 1600 workers to clean and repair over thirty government buildings in Cedar Rapids, Iowa following a devastating flood from the Cedar River. Jarvis Property Restoration was founded in 1979 by Sheryl and Bill Jarvis in Detroit, Michigan. Jarvis presently has offices in Michigan, Iowa and Florida and maintains numerous response hubs across the United States to respond to unexpected disasters. Jarvis has set up a local relief number (615) 301-1077 for Tennessee area homeowners, businesses and government agencies that are in need of water damage restoration services.
Boston Braces for Affects of Spring Storms
A third major spring rainstorm in less than one month is drenching the Boston area. Weather experts are predicting the possibility of potentially dangerous flooding today throughout the area as the National Weather Service is posting flood advisories and warnings all the way from Maine to the Carolinas with as much as 7 inches of rain expected to fall.
There is standing water on major roadways in the Boston area, making driving perilous. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has declared a state of emergency and has asked the National Guard to stand by in case its assistance becomes necessary. Many rivers and streams area already at or above flood stage. Flood watches and warnings extend into much of northern New England with melting snow only adding to the problem. The rain is expected to increase in intensity today and continue to fall for the next couple of days.
Business owners in the Boston area are scrambling to move computers, important documents and other items to higher levels. Many of these same people have already lost thousands of dollars worth of valuables earlier this month when their premises were flooded with up to 7 feet of dirty, muddy water.
In 1983, eleven inches of rain fell on Boston during March which broke a rainfall record. Nearly 10 inches has already fallen on the city before the start of this newest storm, so that record may very well be shattered. The ground in Boston and the surrounding area is so saturated that the new rainfall simply cannot soak in.
Residents are advised to take every precaution to ensure the safety of themselves and of their homes. For those living in flood-threatened areas, it is advised to keep one eye on the weather and to listen to what local emergency authorities are reporting as evacuations may very well be necessary. Families should discuss where to meet in the case of an evacuation and they should also be reminded to consider the family pets as well. It is a good idea to move valuables, electronics, food and clothing from low levels in home and/or business up to a higher ground.
Homeowners should see to it that their gutters and downspouts are clear and in good working order. Loose roofing materials should be repaired as well to avoid the possibility of wet attics or crawl spaces. Houses in low lying and flood-prone areas should have window wells blocked with tight fitting, domed window well covers. The ground around the home should be graded on a slope running away from the home to force standing rainwater away from the structure.
Residents of Fargo ND Prepare for the Possibility of Flooding
If your property is flooded it can be very costly, both in terms of money and time. It is also highly inconvenient and heartbreaking to find your home or business filled with dirty water and debris. Hopefully and with a bit of luck, no one gets hurt as a result of the emergency. Boston residents are experiencing the aftermath of a water damage disaster following last weekends horrific rainstorm that caused significant flood damages to hundreds of homes througout the city of boston.
If you live in the Fargo, North Dakota area, then you are undoubtedly keeping a very close eye on the news. The recent big snow storm has caused the Red River, once again, to rise over its banks. Several dozen homes are already partially or completely submerged and local officials and the National Guard are literally working around the clock readying levies and filling millions of sandbags. But what can you do, as a home or business owner in the area?
You have to decide what to do if the river swells and overflows its banks-which is a very strong possibility. Do you have arrangements made concerning a possible evacuation? Have you decided to ride it out and hope for the best? This is your decision to make, unless of course you are told to leave by local authorities. No matter what you decide to do-stay or go-you still should prepare your home or building against rushing flood water should the worst happen.
First things first. You should begin by moving your valuables upstairs. This includes computers, TVs, personal papers, clothing, food, etc. If you are in a very high risk area, remove these items from the premises completely. If you do not have a second floor, set all that you can up on shelves that are far off the floor. Water can enter your home around closed doors, through cable holes in wall as well as seep in through external walls and through the ground and then through to your flooring. Therefore, you should put up door guards on the outside of your home to hold back low levels of water. Once the guards are in place stack flood sacks or sandbags on top at least three layers deep. For window wells, if there is time, purchase high quality window well coverings that lock into place. If not, board them up and stack sandbags tightly around them.
If you are taking medication, be sure to take that out of the risk zone. Family pets must be cared for as well, so be sure that your evacuation plan includes your dogs, cats or other pets you may have. It is a very good idea to have a sump pump on hand as well as full cleanup plan in mind because time is of the essence when it comes to a flooded home or business.
Flood Safety Clean Up Tips for Boston Area Residents
The incredibly powerful early spring rainstorm that swept across the eastern portion of the United States last week left the Boston area especially hard hit. Local residents reported that most could not recall any storm in recent history that packed as strong a punch as this mighty Nor’easterner did. High gusting winds and pounding rains relentlessly battered the area for several days, causing widespread damage to roads, railway tracks, city streets, businesses and homes. Americans were glued to their television sets as they watched vehicles being swept down city streets, people wading and sometimes swimming to safety and the sight of area residents using boats to survey the damage.
Thankfully the storm has moved out to sea, but now residents are forced with the daunting task of returning home to see what is left of their homes. Many are faced with standing flood water inside their houses. Some homeowners in Quincy returned home after being evacuated to find that their furniture, computers and personal items were floating in up to seven feet of filthy, dirty water. Some unfortunate city residents are left facing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. It was a surreal scene with lifeboats making their way up the streets carrying local residents returning home to salvage what little was left untouched by the ravaging floodwater.
If you are one of the tens of thousand residents affected in the Boston area, be sure to exercise extreme caution when returning to your home. Be sure that the utility companies have given your area the ‘all clear’ to ensure you won’t be injured by downed power lines and/or gas leaks. The first thing that should be done is to contact your insurance company so that a representative can come out and make an assessment. Take care not to turn on the electricity inside your home. If you have access to a sump pump, great! Get all of the standing water out. Set your major appliances up on blocks, remove water soaked carpeting, food and personal items. Not everything can be saved unfortunately, and the general rule is: when in doubt-throw it out’. Flood waters often consist of raw sewage and harmful chemicals so it is better to be safe than sorry.
If the task is too enormous for you to handle, then get in touch quickly with a flood cleanup company. Remember that the clock is ticking and harmful mold and mildew only needs a couple of days to start growing and spreading-which will create even further problems for you. The Boston area is home to numerous flood remediation companies, so if the lines are busy at one, keeping calling down through your list until you get an answer. These professionals will arrive quickly with the heavy-duty equipment necessary to remove the standing water from your home and to dry it out completely.
