Disaster Safety Blog

Winter storm damage can be prevented

With 2 feet of snow this past weekend and more flakes forecasted, many homes in the Baltimore area are likely to end up with some weather-related damage, today's Baltimore Sun reports.

To help residents become better prepared, the newspaper turned to the Institute for Business & Home Safety. Here is an excerpt from the story How protected are you from snow damage?

If your house hasn't been damaged, you can take measures to protect it.

Shovel snow away from all doors and dig out snow in window wells, the recesses that allow light into basement windows, says Tim Reinhold, chief engineer for the Institute for Business & Home Safety. Otherwise, once the snow starts melting, water will seep through doorways or basement windows.

Still, with this much snow on the ground, you can expect some water seeping into basements. So clear basement floors and move shelves away from walls so items aren't warped by water, Reinhold says.

Protect outdoor faucets with foam covers available at your local hardware store, Reinhold says. The foam covers draw heat from the house and keep the outdoor faucet from freezing.

If your house is in an exceptionally cold area, or if you lost power, keep the indoor faucets trickling to prevent pipes from freezing, Reinhold says. Open cabinet doors under the sinks so any heat in the house will keep the pipes from freezing, Reinhold says.

Moisture coming through the ceiling is often a sign that gutters are blocked by an ice dam. "You might want to get a contractor in to get the gutters free so water can run off," Reinhold says.

Flat roofs - and Baltimore has plenty of those - can become overburdened with snow and collapse. This is more likely to happen with garages and commercial buildings than houses that have walls inside offering additional support, Reinhold says.

If the snow is piling up on your flat roof, don't get on top of the house to clear it off, Hornig warns. You can fall or cause more problems to the roof with a shovel. Instead, contact a contractor.
 
For more information about preventing winter weather from damaging your home or business visit DisasterSafety.org

 

Heavy snow collapses roofs in Mid-Atlantic states

For now the skies have cleared in the Mid-Atlantic states, where many residents are dealing with wet and heavy snow with snow drifts up to 4 feet. The dangers posed to properties, however, are just beginning.

The National Weather Service reported a foot of snow in parts of Ohio and 2 feet or more in Washington, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Parts of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia got closer to 3 feet.

In Philadelphia, 28.5 inches of snow fell during the storm, just shy of the record 30.7 inches during a January 1996 blizzard, the weather service reports. Snow totals were even higher to the west in Pennsylvania, with 31 inches recorded in Upper Strasburg and 30 inches in Somerset.

Homes and businesses with flat roofs are vulnerable to collapse under these types of snow conditions, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Flat roofs that are adjacent to taller buildings, such as in a business district, are particularly at risk if the snow collects in the area between the roof and the wall.

IBHS offers guidelines to help property owners determine how much snow may put their roof in danger of collapse. With up to 5 inches of additional snow forecast for the region this week, remove the existing snow as soon as possible to reduce the risk of a collapse.

So far, roof collapses have been reported in Maryland, where state and local officials said the roofs collapsed at a Baltimore church, a school and warehouse in Southern Maryland, and two Howard County barns, and in Fairfax County, Va., where the roofs on two firehouses collapsed overnight.

Firefighters are now investigating a possible roof collapse at a U.S. Post Office in Vienna, Va. The employees and customers inside the building were ordered outside after the roof began to buckle, according to local officials.  

Prepare now for approaching winter storm

As the second major winter storm of 2010 barrels toward the Mid-Atlantic, there are things home and businesses should do now and after the storm reduce their risk of property damage - and, in the case of businesses, a weather-related closure.

The National Weather Service predicted “near-blizzard conditions” and issued a winter storm warning — extending from today through late Saturday — that covered a vast bloc of the Mid-Atlantic. The storm was expected to unleash an intense snowfall on Washington, Maryland and parts of West Virginia and northern Virginia later today before spreading north to the southern edge of New England later in the day and into tomorrow.

Here are things to do before the storm hits, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).  

1. Prepare your pipes. Learn more about how to prevent freezing pipes, which can lead to water damage.
2. Trim low-hanging trees branches. Ice-covered branches become 30 times heavier and can crash onto roofs and cars.
3. Learn how to safely operate space heaters, wood pellet stoves and other alternative heating sources.

Business owners should take steps now to prepare a disaster recovery plan. Get help with the process using the free IBHS Open for Business® program.

After the worst of the weather clears, assess any damage and take proactive steps to reduce future damage by monitoring the ice and snow conditions on your roof, gutters and near pipes.

1. Take steps to prevent ice dams from forming on the roof. Ice dams can leave walls and ceilings vulnerable to water damage.
2. Know how much snow is too much for your roof to handle. Roof collapses under the weight of ice and snow can be avoided with proper precautions. 

Tree damage forces residents to take a crash course in recovery

The winter storm that blanketed trees with ice from Oklahoma and Nebraska to Arkansas and North Carolina left many residents cleaning up damage and facing repairs. Trees laden with ice can be up to 30 times heavier, and therefore cause more damage when they crash down on roofs, porches and cars.

Although the structural repairs likely will be the first focus, residents also should make time to prune trees nearest to homes and businesses to avoid future damage. Arborists say late winter is a perfect time to prune damaged limbs and spring will bring the opportunity to replace any trees that cannot be saved.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offers a free guide to Trim Your Risk of Tree Damage, which includes detailed information to help you get started. Use caution when trimming higher branches; in many cases this is best left to a professional.

If trees caused roof damage, check out the IBHS guide to Roofing the Right Way. This informational brochure is designed to help you make better choices to strengthen your roof against future damage.

Learn more about preventing winter-related property damage with help from IBHS.

Slow economy has some builders gearing up for "green"

The construction business may still be far from rebounding after its economic tumble, but some builders in California are taking advantage of the slow down to retool - in hopes of building more durable and sustainable structures.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that builders are gearing up for the implementation of Calgreen codes, a new building code that takes effect Jan. 1, 2011.

San Diego contractor Russ Earnshaw is embracing a landmark set of environmental codes in California that will raise the cost of new buildings, create more government oversight and increase industry competition once green practices become the norm, the newspaper reports.

“The minimum standard has been raised for the entire state,” Earnshaw told the Union-Tribune. “There is a great long-term benefit because we have to build structures that are longer-lasting and more efficient and just overall better for the environment.”

About 40 percent of the country’s energy is used to run offices, homes, restaurants and other buildings, making green construction a centerpiece of state and national programs to lower emissions of climate-warming gases by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the newspaper reports.

Developers, environmentalists and regulators debated for more than two years before the California Building Standards Commission adopted the nation’s first comprehensive mandate on eco-friendly construction last month. Builders said the rules are a reasonable compromise that won’t hurt an already crippled industry. Environmentalists said the threshold has been set too low.

Calgreen covers dozens of actions, from managing storm-water runoff and installing low-polluting fireplaces to recycling construction debris and using building materials that release fewer chemicals. The main categories include structural design, energy consumption, water conservation and pollution control.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is committed to keeping the concept of creating more durable structures as a centerpiece in the discussions surrounding "green" construction trends. IBHS Director of Code Development Wanda Edwards and Mischa Morgera, IBHS' project engineer and building science specialist, participated in a meeting on the issue last week in Austin, Texas. They were among the drafters of the International Code Council’s International Green Construction Code (IGCC), who gathered to begin finalizing the first-ever integrated green code for traditional and high-performance commercial buildings.

Learn more about IBHS' view of "green" building trends.

Understanding the earthquake risks in Pennsylvania

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti and killed more than 100,000 people has increased awareness about their own earthquake risks among some Pennsylvania residents, the Reading Eagle reports.

The areas around Berks County, Pa., were rocked by two earthquakes measuring 4.0 and 4.6 in 1994 and a minor aftershock. Windows and chimneys were among the largest casualties in terms of structural damage. Interior items such as china, crystal, lamps and electronics also were damaged.

The newspaper reports that recent studies revealed "homeowners believe...if there is a catastrophic earthquake, the federal government will come in and bail everyone out if their homes are lost or damaged." All one has to do is look to New Orleans for evidence of what a massive disaster can do and just how long it takes to recover. Residents there are still recovering nearly five years later, even with millions of dollars spent in government aid.

Pennsylvania residents would be wise to educate themselves about their earthquake risks and take steps now to get prepared. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) can help. Download a free copy of the IBHS guide Is Your Home Protected? to find out how to get ready before the ground shakes.

Winter storm has residents digging out, cleaning up

A winter storm that crossed in a nearly straight line dumping snow, sleet and ice this week from northern Texas to Washington has left residents cleaning up and assessing the damage.

To date, the majority of damage to homes has resulted from tree branches that crashed through roofs and windows after being weighed down by a coating of heavy ice. Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry requested a federal disaster declaration for all of Oklahoma after the massive storm left up to a half-inch of ice on trees and power lines.

In Virginia, where snowfall totals of up to 14 inches have left residents stranded, more than 200 members of the state National Guard were placed on active duty to assist emergency responders. Freezing rain could add to the problems if roofs become weakened under the weight of snow and ice. So far no roof collapses have been reported.

The same storm dumped up to 13 inches of snow in North Carolina, where similar concerns exist about the ability of roofs to withstand heavy snowloads. Residents in Arizona, which was the site of more than a dozen roof collapses following a winter storm two weeks ago, continue cleaning up.

Winter weather can result in frozen pipes and ice dams that can lead to interior water damage. Learn how to protect yourself, your home and your business with help from the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). 

Record snowfalls have left Iowa ripe for flooding

The National Weather Service says a quick snow melt and heavy rains could put Iowa at high risk for flooding this spring. Iowa has had an unusually brutal winter, logging the most snowfall in over 100 years.

The weather service's flood outlook comes as cities are still recovering from flooding in 2008 that caused an estimated $10 billion in damage.

This year, some of the highest risk is along the Des Moines River from the Minnesota border to Des Moines. Moderate flooding is possible along the Mississippi River from the Quad Cities south.

Predictions are based on normal amounts of precipitation this spring. Other factors are above-normal soil moisture, river flows and snowpack. The best-case scenario is a slow melt and below-normal precipitation. The worst case is a quick warm-up and heavy rain.

Get prepared for spring flooding with information from the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Homeowners policies do not cover flood-related damage. Learn more at www.FloodSmart.gov.

Taking control in the face of disasters

As images of the devastation in Haiti continue to fill television screens in the United States, it's difficult to avoid wanting to do something to help. Why not start by helping your own family get better prepared?

The reality is, although you may not see the same level of heavy media coverage now devoted to what's happening in Haiti, natural disasters are occurring more frequently all over the world and displacing a growing number of people. A study by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs found that 36 million people were displaced by the sudden onset of disasters in 2008, and of those 20 million were displaced by climate-related disasters.

As we approach the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, keep in mind the memory of images from that disaster and remember it will happen again. Disasters can make all of us feel powerless, but it is possible to take back control.

Get started today by assessing the risks posed by natural perils that are most common in the areas where you live and work. Are tornadoes the biggest threat? Or maybe you live in a flood-prone area? Perhaps earthquakes, hurricanes or wildfires are the most common regional hazards.

Whatever the risks there are steps you can take now to better equip your family, your community and yourself to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Tough economic times may seem like a good reason not to get prepared, but there are affordable things you can do. So ask yourself, can I afford not to protect my family against disasters? Just turn on the television to find your answer.

New study raises concerns for increased structural damage in Pacific Northwest

A major increase in maximum ocean wave heights off the Pacific Northwest in recent decades has forced scientists at the University of Oregon to re-evaluate how high a “100-year event” might be, and the new findings raise special concerns for flooding, coastal erosion and structural damage.

The new assessment concludes that the highest waves may be as much as 46 feet, up from estimates of only 33 feet that were made as recently as 1996, and a 40 percent increase. December and January are the months such waves are most likely to occur, although summer waves are also significantly higher.

In a study just published online in the subscription-based journal Coastal Engineering, scientists from Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries report that the cause of these dramatically higher waves is not completely certain, but “likely due to Earth’s changing climate.”

Using more sophisticated techniques that account for the “non-stationarity” in the wave height record, researchers say the 100-year wave height could actually exceed 55 feet, with impacts that would dwarf those expected from sea level rise in coming decades. Increased coastal erosion, flooding, damage to ocean or coastal structures and changing shorelines are all possible, scientists say.

“The rates of erosion and frequency of coastal flooding have increased over the last couple of decades and will almost certainly increase in the future,” said Peter Ruggiero, an assistant professor in the OSU Department of Geosciences. “The Pacific Northwest has one of the strongest wave climates in the world, and the data clearly show that it’s getting even bigger.

“Possible causes might be changes in storm tracks, higher winds, more intense winter storms, or other factors,” Ruggiero said. “These probably are related to global warming, but could also be involved with periodic climate fluctuations such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and our wave records are sufficiently short that we can’t be certain yet. But what is clear is the waves are getting larger.”