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Southlake General Contractors is a full-service general contractor specializing in leasehold improvements and commercial construction. Southlake GC offers an extensive range of services, including but not limited to - budgets, scheduling, and construction management. The professional staff at Southlake has the technical knowledge and management expertise to deal with routine as well as "crisis" situations involving clients.

Emergency Commercial Facility Disaster Planning: 3 Takeaways from Recent Tornado


Recently, the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex watched as storms ravaged through North Texas and now with a confirmed EF-2 tornado that hit Arlington, Texas homes, and businesses. As I followed the media coverage leading up to and following these storms, my thoughts of course turned to the rebuilding process and post-tornado construction work ahead for these communities. Just this time last year in the north Dallas Preston Royal area a tornado which caused massive damage to that community.
 
While hopefully most of us will never experience firsthand the result of a category EF-2 or EF-4 tornado, these recent storms offer some good reminders to all commercial property owners and tenants about preparing for serious weather-related events that could potentially strike in their area and cause commercial facility damage.

Here are some important points to keep in mind for developing an emergency facility maintenance and repair plan:

1. Make the Most of Advance Notice
While not every natural disaster can be predicted, weather-related emergencies such as tornados and winter storms are typically forecast at least a few days in advance. Commercial property operators can use that time to first and foremost ensure they have an evacuation plan in place and employees, tenants and customers are safe – but also to take commercial construction preventative maintenance steps to avoid or minimize storm damage, or enlist their facility maintenance contractor to handle those tasks for them:

Tornado or high wind event
  • Board up windows and doors
  • Secure any areas of the property that are vulnerable to sustained winds or gusts
  • Blizzard, ice storm or extreme cold snap
  • Check that all vacant spaces are fully winterized to avoid frozen and burst pipes
  • If appropriate, bring in temporary heating to run during sub-zero temperatures
  • Ensure all window and door seals are intact
 
Finally, property managers and owners should follow the lead of one of our north Dallas clients and reach out to a reputable construction and facility maintenance firm in advance of a weather emergency to let them know they may need assistance – and secure their spot at the top of the contractor’s list when recovery and cleanup efforts begins.

2. Prepare for Limited Resources
As we planned to provide immediate assistance to our clients in north Dallas, we were sure to plan for resources unlikely to be available in the aftermath of a storm – namely, electricity, construction materials and manpower.
 
3. Let the Recovery Begin
Once a weather-related disaster is over, it’s time to take stock of damage and begin repairs. One reminder we always give clients is that if damage to a commercial facility is significant enough to make an insurance claim, they should always have their insurance company come out to document the damage before making any repairs. It is certainly fine to take immediate steps to stabilize and secure a commercial property in the aftermath of a storm, such as boarding up broken windows or dealing with urgent safety concerns, but the insurance company will need the opportunity to do its own assessment to process a claim.
 
Property owners – including both commercial and residential – should also be cautious of “pickup truck” contractors who inevitably descend in regions impacted by big storms. The concern with these storm chasers is they are often untraceable and disappear after completing a job, meaning there is no recourse if there are issues with the work. As with any construction project, it is important to check the references and reputation of any construction firm you hire for disaster recovery work and, if possible, use a contractor you’ve had a positive experience with previously.

That last point also highlights the peace of mind that comes with enlisting the ongoing services of a general contractor. Not only is that trusted partner there as a single point of contact for any commercial facility maintenance need that arises, from fixing a leaky roof to regular HVAC servicing, but they are also just a phone call away when the unexpected happens. If you’d like to find out more about creating a facility maintenance and management program for your property, give us a call.
 
LET US BID ON YOUR NEXT COMMERCIAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT!
John Kappus, Director of Business Development
Southlake General Contractors, Inc.
5302 Beltline Rd., Suite A, Dallas, Texas 75254
C: 214-693-1187  |   O: 214-466-2702
jkappus@southlakegc.com
www.southlakegc.com
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