As all of us are acutely aware, June 1st was the start of Hurricane Season.  Forecasters are declaring it will be an above average summer with 12 to 18 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes, Category 3 and above, although precise predictions have been made more difficult by the “neutral conditions” of El Niño and La Niña.  All it takes, though, is one storm to make landfall, and the impact can be widespread.

With the devastating tornados that have raked the mid-West and southeast, we know all too well that prior planning and preparations are essential to survivability.  One question you should be asking yourself now… “Is my facility survivable?”  Unfortunately, the Tuscaloosa Emergency Operations Center was not.  The Emergency Management staff was in the direct line of the tornado and found themselves digging out of their crumbled facility.

Attached you will find an article that was recently published in “Florida Caribbean Architect” about an Emergency Operations Center in Marathon, Florida, the county seat of Monroe County in the Keys.  This facility has been designed and engineered to withstand the “10,000 Year Storm,” one with storm surge waves of 18-20 feet and sustained winds of 205 mph and gusts of 225 mph.  Designing a facility to withstand nature’s greatest fury is not only desirable, but also feasible.

Please take a moment to review this article and ask yourself if you are truly prepared.  If the answer is “no,” contact Architects Design Group to see how we can help.
To view the full article published by Florida Architect, please click here or go to: http://www.adgusa.org/10,000%20yr%20storm%20Full%20Article.pdf