RoofConnect: Prepare Roof NOW for Early Tropical Storms & Hurricanes

It's that time of year again. Hurricane Season officially began on June 1st!

AccuWeather.com's long-range team predicts 16 named tropical storms,
eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes for the
2013 Atlantic hurricane season. Of these, three are predicted to
make landfall in the United States.

Proper analysis of your roofs is critical in any season, but hurricane season raises even more concerns. Hurricanes cause damage in a variety of ways through strong winds, storm surges, flooding and tornadoes. Early preparation and regular roof maintenance is essential so that your roofs are protected against the hurricanes arriving this season and beyond. Careful installation practices and annual maintenance can make a significant difference in a roof’s hurricane preparedness.

Here are a few of the things you should check to make sure your properties roofs are better prepared to survive a hurricane.

TO DO...Now:

Schedule RoofConnect to perform your roof’s annual maintenance if you have not done so already.
Take care of regular roof maintenance concerns now to prevent any additional damage.
RoofConnect will create a proper plan to meet specific needs at each site.
Train your property management staff now – educating during a hurricane warning can be stressful.
Take photographs or video of your establishments inside and out, from all angles. This will help to substantiate insurance claims later.
Regularly clean drains, gutters and downspouts of your buildings.
RoofConnect can verify that all permanent rooftop equipment is secure. - Improperly secured machinery causes membrane separation & leaks.
Determine and acquire emergency equipment and supplies to have on hand in the event of a storm (e.g., heavy plastic sheeting, tie-downs for sheeting and rooftop equipment, duct tape, masking tape, sandbags, emergency generator, storm shutters, large pieces of plywood, hand tools and other essential items).

TO DO...When a Hurricane Watch is Issued:

Check and secure equipment on rooftops – HVAC equipment, ventilation piping, exhaust fans and vents must be secured to the roof – these things can become missiles!
Remove loose objects, loose gravel and debris from the roof.
Bring in display racks and other objects usually left outside.
Remove antennas, outdoor signs, especially those that swing or are portable.
Close all doors and secure all windows. A RICOWI (Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues) study found that a surprising number of roof failures were due to doors and windows that had been left open or shattered. When high speed winds entered buildings through these spaces, roofs can be compromised.

RoofConnect Can Help:

Safety is always first and foremost.
A proper plan is executed with you to meet specific needs at each site.
All Federal and local guidelines must be followed to protect all personnel before entering the disaster zone and while on site.
Proper documentation is always provided at project close out.
We work with you to solve your emergency quickly; our work and materials meet the standards of insurance coverage claims.

Be Sure to Connect with Us!