Twister Season is Here

As the summer season moves along, the possibility of a catastrophic tornado is ever-present. We have considerable experience in dealing with damage to buildings including vehicle impacts, fire repairs, explosions, and water damage. But tornados require an experienced team with systems and resources ready to act.

Tornados can devastate an entire community. A fast response from emergency services companies is required. Our team of engineers stands ready with established methods and tools to enter a disaster area and begin assessing the damage.

The first priority is usually determining if a building is safe to enter. A heavily damaged building may be unstable and could collapse, jeopardizing the safety of residents and first responders. We can determine if the building can be made safe or should be demolished. We then review and document the damage to buildings and advise on what should be done for emergency work. This includes determining if there are any hazardous substances in the building such as asbestos or lead-based paint. With a scope of repair established, we can begin measuring and preparing drawings for the contractor and municipality.

In addition to the clear damage from a tornado, there are usually a number of claims filed for less obvious damage. There are often claims for cracking in bricks and foundations, shifting of porches, decks, or fences, and a variety of other issues. With our extensive experience assessing the damage from tornados, we are able to separate damage related to the extreme winds and what was likely pre-existing.

After a tornado strikes, an engineering company needs to be ready to have ‘boots on the ground’ with systems in place to help triage the huge range of damages. With our experience in large catastrophic events, we stand ready to work with contractors, adjusters, first responders, and the municipal building department to begin the long process of rebuilding a devastated community.