With over a million still without power, Florida residents are dealing with immeasurable loss. From flood-ridden homes to structural damage due to fallen trees, wind and rain, the rebuilding will go on for months and years to come. Resources, workers, equipment and more are needed to help. While still too early to assess what structures stood up to this Cat 4 hurricane, here is a quick compilation of some stories coming in … METALCON’s Give Back organization, World Central Kitchen, has mobilized to help hurricane victims, a success story of a Tesla Solar Roof surviving the storm, a Hurricane Ian Recovery Guide for Contractors courtesy of RoofersCoffeeShop®, and how IMPs stand up to hurricanes.
METALCON ’22 Give Back — the World Central Kitchen has mobilized in Florida
METALCON’s selected organization for its annual “Give Back” has already mobilized in Florida. While initially chosen to help efforts in the war-ridden Ukraine, WCK is also helping those closer to home. Consider helping those who have lost their homes in the wake of Hurricane Ian by donating to WCK today or while you are at METALCON by stopping by “The Deck” on the show floor. DONATE TODAY.
Tesla Solar Roof and Submerged PowerWalls Survives Hurricane Ian
According to InsideEVs, “Not only did the roof remain intact, but the Powerwall was reportedly submerged in water for hours and is still functioning as it should.” Kelly Roofing, a major contractor in Florida that installs roofs and Tesla’s related products, posted the following on Twitter:
Hurricane Ian Roof Recovery Guide for Contractors by RoofersCoffeeShop®
As posted on September 29 —
Help homeowners assess if there is any damage to the roof. By documenting the damage, noting the severity and taking photos, you are providing information that will be critical in the event they need to file a claim to help cover repairs.
Keep in mind that your phones will likely be ringing off the hook, especially following massive storms like we saw with Hurricane Ian. Consider an answering or virtual receptionist service like Ruby, that can help you manage the volume of calls.
You also might want to set up a dedicated email address that can help you manage the flow of inquiries for emergency response and repair service. An email address can be set up in minutes and can be forwarded to whoever on your team is handling the inquiries. Use something easy and memorable, like roofdamage@yourcompany.com.
Prioritizing your response
You also will need to put a plan in place to prioritize service calls. Many imagery providers like EagleView and Nearmap will provide before and after photos, often at no charge on their websites, following catastrophic storms. This can be useful in identifying which properties sustained the most damage and helpful to your company in determining which properties to visit first.
EagleView released the following statement relating to Hurricane Ian:
EagleView is closely monitoring conditions with Hurricane Ian and we are standing by to help. We hope that all of those in impacted areas stay safe. Our aircraft will be in the air as soon as it is safe to do so and all new imagery and data for the impacted areas will be expedited. As contractors and insurers mobilize to help homeowners resolve claims and start rebuilding after the storm, EagleView will be staffed and ready to expedite the process with high-resolution aerial imagery and property data, including roof measurements.
Check here for the latest information on EagleView’s post-storm imagery captures and disaster response for insurance carriers and adjusters. For the latest information on the path and landfall of Hurricane Ian, check here.
As a contractor, you are a key resource for property owners and a first point of education for helping them further protect their homes and buildings from storm damage. Help them plan ahead and prepare for future hurricanes, stay up to building code and navigate insurance claims. Remind them that should any more damage happen you are ready to help.
If your repair backlog is stacking up or you are struggling to get materials, consider offering your customers a long-term temporary solution like Stormseal, that heat shrinks to the home or building and won’t blow off like blue tarps. It lasts for up to a year or more and can keep properties watertight, protected from rain, wind, hail and future hurricanes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed Stormseal on homes in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida and it withstood future storms. Remember that you must be certified to purchase and install the system and you can learn more here about becoming certified.
Talk to your peers
At RCS, we provide a Hurricane Relief Forum that allows you to post messages, see what others are talking about, ask questions and find what you need to start the rebuilding, repair and recovery process. It’s free to use and can be helpful in hearing how other roofing contractors are responding to their local communities.
If you need resources, workers, equipment or more to help you respond to the damage, RCS is offering free classified ads for any contractor looking for help. Just use the code IAN at checkout and your ad placement is free, up to $100.
I am not affected, but would like to help…
In response to impacts from Hurricane Ian, Volunteer Florida has activated the Florida Disaster Fund. The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to provide financial assistance to our communities as they respond to and recover from times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with public, private, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.
Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and are tax-deductible. To contribute, please visit FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.
Using Metal Panels to Stand Up to Hurricanes, by The Construction Specifier, official magazine of CSI
As homeowners and contractors begin the process of rebuilding, weather-resistant Metal Paneling is one application that is being used to withstand the potential damage caused by hurricanes. According to the article, the Orlando Veteran Affairs Medical Center, installed more than 245,000 sf of weather-resistant metal walls, tested to withstand winds from a Category 3 hurricane in 2015 and has just made it through Hurricane Ian. For more information on IMPs, visit the IMP Pavilion at METALCON ’22.
METALCON Blog 