STORM READINESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Mother Nature has the extreme power to bring beautiful summer days but also natural disasters. She also has the power to force change and raise awareness. It is critical to be proactive by wisely implementing lessons learned that help facility owners and operators prepare for future disasters. FXB Engineering believes it is imperative to help optimize the way owners manage their buildings to reduce interruptions during these stressful times

Waiting until the devastation occurs limits a facility owner’s ability to respond eciently. Relying on the local utility company to restore services may take days or weeks depending on the severity of the storm and is subject to their regional priorities. Installing back up generators along with implementing proper preventative maintenance procedures on electrical and mechanical equipment ensures continued operation of your facility while these recovery eorts are underway. If these processes are in place and documented before a storm or disaster hits, sta and engineers are familiar with the systems and can respond immediately with emergency support.

Where is my facility exposed to failure?
While identifying exactly when a storm or other disaster will hit and to what degree is unrealistic, a Risk Assessment can identify potential points of failure within a variety of building systems in the event that they do. This process develops a list of recommended corrective actions that can be turned over to a management team for budgeting and scheduling.

How much of a nancial investment do I need to make?
Developing a cost/benet analysis is necessary to determine the most economical ways to mitigate against future loss. An engineer will help decision makers understand the importance of specic building systems as related to the unique operational characteristics of a business and assist in prioritizing corrective actions accordingly. Typically, reactive measures during the emergency situation are signicantly more expensive than the preventative actions that can be taken before a disaster occurs.

Are these preventative measures required by regulatory entities?
Existing codes are subpar when it relates to disaster planning assuch they do not always typically require building owners implement preventative measures. However, as the impact of storms is increasing on our advancing communities, insurance companies along with enforcement agencies are becoming more aware of the importance of preventative measures and increasing their standards accordingly. FXB is committed to working with building owners and property managers to assess their needs and guide them through the development of a risk management program.