Facing Stronger for Longer Hurricanes

December 7, 2020 by gibson Leave a Comment

In a recent study conducted by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University, researchers have concluded that hurricanes are staying “stronger for longer after hitting land.” Coastal property owners should take notice, as this can equate to more danger and property damage. Damage from a hurricane can happen a few different ways.

Hurricane Damage from Stronger Storm Surges

The rising water pushed toward the shore by forceful hurricane winds is called a storm surge. It can be a greater threat to human life – even more so than the powerful winds. And the crashing waves can cause severe damage to property, damaging boats, docks, and even buildings. With hurricanes staying stronger for longer, storm surges have the potential to become more violent, may cause water levels to rise and cause more damage.

Land Erosion and Land Loss Caused by Hurricanes

Hurricanes also cause damage via delivering torrential rains to an area. These severe rainstorms can cause rivers to flood, eroding the soil from the riverbanks. And torrential rains can create mudslides, leading to land loss and property damage. For example, scientists estimate that the amount of land lost due to hurricanes Katrina and Rita was approximately 73 square miles.

Seawalls and Retaining Walls Can Help Protect from Stronger for Longer Hurricanes

As of yet there is no way to stop a hurricane, but property owners can take steps to protect their land by investing in a seawall or retaining wall. They can serve as the first line of defense to protect property and help curb some of the damage caused by hurricanes. As hurricanes get stronger for longer, even property owners who have never considered a seawall or retaining may want to revisit the topic.

If you’re thinking about investing in a seawall or retaining wall, talk to our marine construction experts at Gibson Marine Construction. We’d be happy to discuss the benefits and how to best protect your property from hurricane damage caused by stronger for longer hurricanes. Contact Gibson Marine Construction today to learn more.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season

September 30, 2020 by gibson Leave a Comment

Usually, by the time hay bales become standard décor, corn fields turn into mazes, and every other billboard displays an ad for a haunted house – we can count on the Atlantic hurricane season to begin winding down. But there hasn’t been much that has been “usual” about this year (not to mention the COVID-19 pandemic too)!

An Active, Above Average Hurricane Season

Even before the hurricane season began, experts were predicting an active hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service predicted a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season. An average hurricane season typically produces around 12 named storms. And an above average season is predicted to produce 13-19 named storms, 6-10 of which become hurricanes, and 3-6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 storms).

A Record Breaking Hurricane Season in 2020

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has blown past predictions – making it one of the most active hurricane seasons in recent history (since the current high-activity era began in 1995).

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020 – summer officially ended, and the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season broke its biggest record yet. This year (2020) had the highest number of named storms (23) ever recorded in a season through the end of summer. That’s 6 more than the previous record of 17 named storms in 2005. It’s also only the second time in history (2005 was the first time) the National Hurricane Center (NHC) ran out of names and had to resort to using Greek letters to continue to name storms.

More records broken this (2020) hurricane season include:

The first record of the 2020 hurricane season was broken on June 2, 2020 when Tropical Storm Cristobal developed, making Cristobal the earliest forming “C” named storm of any season. This was 3 days earlier than the previous record on file, held by Tropical Storm Colin (2016).
And, more named storms, designated by specific alphabet “letters” have formed earlier this year than ever before. By the end of summer, 23 storms had already been named, with 20 of those storms now having the earliest formation date on record for their specific storm “letter”. Arthur, Bertha and Dolly are the exceptions.
Plus, September is the season’s busiest month. September 2020 saw 10 named storms, a new record for the most named storms formed during a single month. The previous record was 8 storms which occurred in 2002, 2007, and 2010.

The 2020 hurricane season has tied a couple records too. Including:

A long-standing record – the record for the most named storms to form in a single day. An exceedingly rare occurrence, this has only happened twice since the hurricane center began keeping reliable records in 1851. The first documented occurrence was on August 15, 1893. Three generically named storms, numbered as 4, 5, and 6 all formed on the very same day. Then, it happened again recently, on September 18, 2020. Tropical Storm Wilfred, Subtropical Storm Alpha and Tropical Storm Beta all formed on the same day tying the record for the most.
When Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on September 22, 2020 as the 9th named storm to make landfall in the contiguous United States in one season, it tied the previous 1916 Atlantic hurricane season record. But there is still plenty of time left; the 2020 hurricane season could likely end up overtaking this record too.

Florida Seawall Inspection and Seawall Repair Services

Tampa area residents and the communities along Florida’s west coast have been truly fortunate this hurricane season. Most storms have been heading up the eastern seaboard, and those entering the Gulf of Mexico have been making landfall farther west.

But just because your seawall hasn’t suffered a direct hit from a hurricane or heavy tropical storms this year, doesn’t mean you can forgo the annual seawall inspection and/or repair process. With such an active hurricane season, there may still be damage; it just may be less obvious to the naked eye. Our Florida Certified Contractors at Gibson Marine Construction offer seawall construction, inspection, and repair services. Let our trusted team of marine construction experts help keep your seawall safe and functioning properly. Call or complete the contact form to learn more.

The 2018 Hurricane Season

May 28, 2018 by gibson Leave a Comment

The 2018 Hurricane Season: When is it? What should I expect?

The 2018 hurricane season is upon us. Arm yourself with information in preparation for the 2018 hurricane season.

When is the 2018 Hurricane Season in Florida?

Hurricane season in Florida officially begins on June 1st and runs through November 30th. But most storms typically hit during peak season, between August and October.

Alberto attempted to kick the hurricane season off early, making landfall over the Florida Panhandle on Memorial Day weekend, but luckily Alberto didn’t gain enough strength and only made it into the subtropical storm category.

2018 Hurricane Season Predictions

Forecastors at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project (CSU), a leading authority on the topic are predicting another busy hurricane season. They predict the 2018 hurricane season to be slightly above historical averages. Here are the numbers:

The average number of hurricanes each season (averaged out over 30 years):

12 named storms
6 hurricanes
2 major hurricanes.

CSU is predicting the 2018 hurricane season to have:

14 named storms
7 hurricanes
3 major hurricanes.

How the 2018 Hurricane Season Compares to 2017

Although CSU predicts an above average hurricane season, they are predicting less activity than the previous year.

Here are the numbers from 2017:

18 named storms
10 hurricanes
6 major hurricanes

How to Prepare for the 2018 Hurricane Season

Being prepared for the 2018 hurricane season can make a big impact on how you spend your summer in Florida. Proper preparedness upfront can make clean up and repairs a lot easier down the line.

Review Your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy

Take some time to sit down and review the details of your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy. You may need to consider increasing your level of coverage if:

You made any improvements to your home or property since you last reviewed the policy.
You’ve made any expensive purchases, such as jewelry, antiques or art. Make sure all documents have been submitted to ensure these items are specifically listed and covered.

Also keep in mind that certain types of flood damage is often not covered by your homeowners insurance policy. If you live on or near a body of water, you may want to consider adding a flood insurance policy to make sure you have protection from all the types of water damage hurricanes can cause.

If You Have an Existing Seawall, Have it Inspected

Seawalls are a great way to help protect your property from some of the damage a hurricane can cause. But a seawall is only as strong as its weakest part.

Regular seawall inspections by seawall service professionals, such as the experts at Gibson Marine Construction, can identify areas in need of repair. Having these areas repaired and/or replaced will help stave off the misfortune of the more costly damage a busy hurricane season could bring.

Install a Seawall to Protect from Hurricane Damage

If you live on the waterfront and don’t have a seawall, you may want to consider having one installed to help protect your property from hurricane or other water damage. Call Gibson Marine Construction to learn how a seawall can help protect you and your property this hurricane season.

Rebuilding After Hurricane Irma: Seawall and Dock Repair

September 25, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

From flattening complete communities in Key West to record flooding in Jacksonville, Hurricane Irma left a path of damage and destruction as she bulldozed her way through the state of Florida. Damage estimates attributed to the hurricane are all over the board, but the experts do seem to agree on one thing: Hurricane Irma will be among the costliest hurricanes of all time.

Rebuilding and Repairing the Damage from Hurricane Irma

Florida communities will be recovering from Hurricane Irma related damage for months to come. As the damage recovery effort continues and it comes time to focus on your dock and seawall repairs, call on the experts at Gibson Marine Construction.

Seawall Damage Due to Hurricanes

When a seawall is built, seawall construction experts must take into account the pressure being exerted on a seawall by the water it is protecting the property from. They must also account the pressure exerted on the seawall by the land and dirt behind it. Keeping the pressure balance is key to quality seawall construction.

Many people would assume that seawall damage by hurricanes would be due to the surges of water coming toward the land. But that assumption is incorrect. Most seawall damage from hurricanes happens before the water surge, when the water is sucked out away from land. The pressure of the land and dirt combined with the pressure of water rushing outward, and the lack of support by the water on the other side of the wall creates too much pressure being exerted in a single direction. This can cause a seawall to crack or even crumble.

Seawall Inspection and Repairs

Since the water often returns to normal levels before property owners are able to inspect the seawall this damage can be hidden. So even if your property wasn’t flooded during Hurricane Irma, she could still have caused damage to your seawall. Get your seawall inspected for damage. It is better to error on the side of caution and ensure your seawall is in proper working order before the next hurricane heads your way.

Dock Damage and Repair

By now, we have all seen an assortment of photos featuring overturned and damaged boats due to Hurricane Irma. And all too often the docks they were anchored against suffered some storm damage as well.

So while your boat is undergoing any clean up or repair efforts, don’t forget to schedule the same type of treatment for your dock. Have your dock inspected for damage and make the repairs necessary to get your dock back to working order. That way you can relax knowing your dock is a safe place for your family to enjoy.

Gibson Marine Construction: Fast, Efficient, Professional Dock and Seawall Repair Services

Are you in need of professional seawall and dock repair services? Gibson Marine Construction is the company you can rely on. With over 30 years of experience, these professionals can be trusted to ensure your seawall and dock repairs are done right.