Hurricane damage inspections are performed by EMA Staff engineers. In case of natural disasters including hurricane damage & water damage, flood damage, roof damage by a storm, wind and hail, foundation scouring and damage, and structural damage, a quick and coordinated recovery is key. Not only is the safety and well-being of our loved ones at stake but the welfare of society depends critically on the resilience of its business community to natural disasters.

We have experienced structural engineers & forensic engineers inspectors in Hurricane damage assessment. We at EMA are prepared to mobilize our staff of engineers, certified inspectors, and technicians to aid in the recovery process. To assist in coordinated long term recovery, our structural & forensic engineers offers the following areas of expertise: building envelope,

Hurricane damage inspections

Structural damage assessment

Repair claims ( residential & commercial)

Forensic Engineering

Foundation collapse analysis

Roof damage reports

Wind damage reports

DAMAGE TO WOOD FRAME STRUCTURE

EXTERIOR:
* Fence support broken at the ground or blown over
* Landscape damage, largest size broken limb, trunk to check against F scale
* Roof blown off or displaced (check wall-roof connection; sometimes it is not evident)
* Broken windows — will indicate wind forces entering the building
* Brick blew off walls or in place
* Chimney and roof vent condition. May cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in damaged condition
* Above-ground utility services — connected or off

INTERIOR:
* Always look ahead and keep the exterior insight
* Do not touch exposed electrical wires or lights
* Check wall-roof connections. Look for evidence of separation
* Check for diagonal fracture of wall surfaces, if rigid like gyp board
* Watch for spilled liquid in and near kitchens, bathrooms, and garages. Very dangerous!
* Look for loose structural items that might collapse. Always assume they will.
* Check the stability of interior walls
* Check what happened to occupants if they were in the structure during the storm
* Check conditions of any basements, cellars, out buildings

OTHER TYPE STRUCTURES OF INSPECTIONS
All of the above, plus the following for the special structure:

Steel Frame or Load-Bearing Walls
* Bent frame
* Broken welds on beams and trusses and at connections
* Reverse-loaded steel beams and trusses
* Racking of the frame
* Wind bracing broken, bent
* Glass breakage
* In high-rise buildings, watch for frame twisting, offsets

Concrete Frame, Slab
* Gouges from columns and floor surfaces from impacts
* Cracks running parallel with reinforcing steel
* Splitting out of the rebars
* Column-slab juncture, condition. Watch for Spalding of concrete
* Look for previous water damage and Spalding.

Damage Inspections, Roof Repairs, and Installation

The roofing system is one of the most vulnerable to storm damage because so many factors can have an impact on a roof. A hurricane damage inspection of the roof is based on a number of key indicators, whether the roof has been hit by high winds, a downed tree, a catastrophic hailstorm, or even a lightning strike.

• A tree on the roof, or roof or wall sections that have been blown open by a storm, are some of the most obvious signs of potential damage and risk. Safety comes first, so stay out of the building until a contractor has examined it for structural hurricane damage inspections.
• Signs of storm damage to a roof can often be evident while standing on the ground. Missing shingles, metal pieces displaced from around the chimney, damaged exhaust pipes, roof valleys, outer edges, or angles where the roof meets the walls, can sometimes be seen from the ground.
• Other damage can be assessed from the inside. The attic can be inspected for leaks or water damage. Water stains might be seen on the ceiling or walls. These all point to the need for repairs or a roof replacement.
• When on a ladder or on the roof itself (for safety, we DO NOT recommend that property owners try this themselves), a Certified NIRC Contractor will look for excess granules in the gutters. These granules may have been loosened by hail impacts. While people hear stories of “golf ball-sized hailstones,” the fact is that most hailstones are small – yet they still can cause significant damage to the roof. And loose granules should not be dismissed or overlooked. Granules are vitally important to the functioning of the roof: They protect the asphalt coating from ultraviolet light, add coloring and beauty, and provide fire resistance.