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Is Your Seawall Ready for Hurricane Season?

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Most of the time, living on the Florida waterfront is a dream delivering amazing weather, beautiful views, and enviable access to the water just outside your door. But it can also leave you vulnerable to some of mother nature’s fury, often arriving in the form of a hurricane.

With the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season already underway, and experts predicting another above-average season, it’s essential to ensure your seawall is ready. And since we don’t know what this season may bring, being prepared for the worst is the best line of defense. Plus, knowing that your seawall could play a key role defending your property and (more importantly) your loved ones, you need to ensure it is in excellent condition.

How to Prepare Your Seawall So It’s Ready for Hurricane Season

There are a few simple steps you can take to get your seawall prepared to face hurricanes this season.

Inspect Your Seawall for Damage

Your seawall is only as strong as its weakest part. Start preparing your seawall for hurricane season by assessing its current condition. When inspecting your seawall for damage, look for:

  • Visible rust stains and where the stains are coming from.
  • Corrosion from being exposed to natural elements, such as wind and water, especially saltwater.
  • Signs of damage caused by the normal wear and tear of everyday use.
  • Space between slabs that appears to be widening or becoming misaligned.
  • Cracked, bowing, or leaning slabs.
  • Cracks in the seawall cap or any small chunks broken off of it.
  • Soil settling or any holes along the seawall.

Assess Changing Environmental Conditions Impacting Seawall Stability

Not all elements impacting the stability of a seawall are visible to the naked eye. Changes to the environment near a seawall can lead to a pressure imbalance, which could cause your seawall to fail. Some of the most common causes of seawall pressure imbalances include:

  • Changes to water flow patterns
  • Changes to your living space
  • Landscaping modifications

For more information on these common causes of seawall pressure imbalances, visit Part IV of our Seawall Failure Series.

Expand or Extend Your Seawall

With hurricanes staying stronger for longer, they have the potential to bring greater danger and destruction. Stronger for longer hurricanes can deliver more powerful storm surges where an unusual rise in water during a storm is pushed toward the shoreline by powerful, forceful winds. It can cause water to rise well above normal levels and bring more water further inland.

Storm surges can be one of the greatest threats to human life – even more so than the powerful hurricane winds. Surges can push a huge volume of water inland for many miles. The speed and force at which a storm surge arrives leaves little warning time for people to get to higher ground. Surges can cause lots of damage, demolish buildings, flood homes, wash away roads, etc. Within minutes, people can become stranded on rooftops or in vehicles, or worse – be injured or killed.

Stronger, longer, and taller seawalls provide better protection against storm surges. Expanding and/or extending your seawall helps better protect your loved ones and your property.

Seawall Inspection and Repair Services in Tampa Bay

If you are unsure of what to look for when assessing your seawall, or would just like some assistance, call the seawall experts at Gibson Marine Construction. We offer seawall inspection and repair services to help you get your seawall ready for hurricane season. Contact us to learn more.

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season

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2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predictions

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season officially kicks off on June 1, 2021 and will run through the end of November. Learn what the experts are predicting for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

The Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project, a respected authority on hurricanes is predicting an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Here are the numbers:

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

• 12 named storms
• 6 hurricanes
• 2 major hurricanes

The Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project is predicting the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season to have:

• 17 named storms
• 8 hurricanes
• 4 major hurricanes

Comparing the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predictions to the Previous Year (2020)

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season blew past predictions, with a record breaking hurricane season and the highest number of named storms (23) ever recorded in a season throughout the end of summer. That was 6 more named storms than the previous record of 17 in 2005. In 2020, we also saw 14 hurricanes (second highest on record) and 7 major hurricanes (tied highest on record). Plus, it was also only the second time in recorded history, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) ran out of names, then had to switch to Greek letters to continue naming storms.

And although experts are predicting another above average hurricane season for 2021, they do not believe it will be another record breaking hurricane season, like 2020.

Is Your Waterfront Property Ready for Hurricane Season?

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was also the fifth costliest Atlantic hurricane season on record, with total damage estimates of $51.146 billion USD.

So, if you haven’t had your waterfront property seawall inspected and/or repaired after the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, now is the time to do it. The experts at Gibson Marine Construction have 30+ years of experience inspecting and repairing seawalls. They can ensure that your seawall is in the best condition to protect your home and family, giving you peace of mind going into the hurricane season.

Contact Gibson Marine Construction for a free seawall inspection or repair quote today.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season

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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 2019 Hurricane Season

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2019 Hurricane Season Predictions

The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season officially kicked off on June 1, 2019 and will run through the end of November.

Forecastors at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project (CSU), a leading authority on the topic are predicting the 2019 hurricane season to be slightly below 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 2019 hurricane season to have:

  • 13 named storms
  • 5 hurricanes
  • 2 major hurricanes.

How the upcoming (2019) Hurricane Season Compares to the previous season (2018):

CSU is predicting less activity than the previous year.

Here are the numbers from 2018:

  • 15 named storms
  • 8 hurricanes
  • 3 major hurricanes

Tips for Preparing for the 2019 Hurricane Season

Even though the 2019 hurricane season is predicted to be slightly below historical averages, it only takes one hurricane or tropical storm to cause damage, destruction, and/or devastation. Proper preparedness upfront can be the difference between minimal damage and outright devastation.

The following tips can help you prepare:

Establish an Emergency Plan for Your Family

Family members may not all be in the same location when a tropical storm or hurricane threatens your community. Create an emergency plan and discuss it with all family members to ensure they know exactly what to do in case of an emergency.

Key components of your family/household emergency plan should include:

  • Determine how to stay updated on the latest emergency alerts and warnings.
  • Prepare a shelter plan – Create an in-home shelter plan and an off-site shelter plan.
  • Map out the best evacuation route so you can leave quickly should you need to.
  • Make a family/household communication plan.

    • Prepare Your Home and Property for Hurricane Season

    Earlier this month, Senator Rick Scott urged Florida residents to “prepare for the worst.”

    “I cannot stress this enough: preparedness saves lives,” he said. “Hurricane season begins June 1, and I am asking every family and business in Florida to get a plan and a disaster preparedness kit today.”

    In addition to a plan and a kit, here are a few more things you can do to prepare:

    • Review and/or update your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy
    • Check to see if your policy covers flood insurance. If not, you may want to invest in a flood insurance policy, sooner rather than later, as many policies take 30 days to go into effect.
    • Create a checklist of all the things you should do as the storm approaches. The list should include everything from what to bring inside, to what to tie down, to tasks to be completed, such as filling your vehicle(s) fuel tank.
    • Make a plan for your pets as many shelters do not allow them.
    • Have a plan for and the materials needed to board up your home.
    • Have a plan and/or storage place to keep larger, valuable purchases, such as vehicles and boats protected.
    • If you have an existing seawall, have it professionally inspected and/or repaired to ensure it is in the best condition to hold up against a hurricane and better protect your property. And if you live on the waterfront and don’t have a seawall, you may want to consider having one installed.

    Gibson Marine Construction Can Help You Be Better Prepared for Hurricane Season

    If you have an existing seawall or are interested in learning more about adding a seawall to your waterfront property, Gibson Marine Construction can help you check that last bullet point off of your list. The experts at Gibson Marine Construction have over 30 years of experience building, inspecting, and repairing seawalls. They use high quality materials and advanced technology in order to prevent erosion and to withstand strong winds and high waves.

    The 2018 Hurricane Season

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    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.

    Tips for Preparing Your Boat, Dock, and Boat Lift for a Major Storm

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    It’s been a record 10 years since the state of Florida has suffered a direct hit from a major hurricane. The state’s official hurricane season started on June 1, and with months to go until the season officially ends on November 30, there’s no better time than now to learn how to prepare your waterfront property for a potential tropical storm or hurricane.

    Florida possesses some of the nation’s greatest beaches, beautiful waterways, and excellent offshore fishing. The past decade of relative calm on both coasts and a population growth throughout the state of 2.5 million new residents means that many of the state’s boaters are either rusty or inexperienced altogether in preparing for a storm. In order to protect your boat, dock, and boat lift, keep these tips in mind as hurricane season continues.

     

    Preparing Your Boat

    Assuming you have enough warning and the time to do so, the best course of action you can take with your boat is to remove it from your boat lift and store it away from the potential storm surge in a safe place. If you cannot remove your boat, raise the dock lift as high as you can in an attempt to keep the boat above the storm surge, and don’t forget to secure your boat to the lift. Also, remove plugs from your boat so water can drain out and not overload your lift.

    If you cannot remove your boat and your boat lift’s cradle doesn’t rise high enough to keep it above the potential storm surge, there are extra steps to take. It is still advisable to raise your boat as high as the boat lift goes, secure your boat to the lift, and use long ropes to secure your boat to anchor points. Even if the storm surge lifts your boat off the boat lift, the long anchor ropes will help keep it near your property.

     

    Preparing Your Boat Lift

    For those who were able to remove the boat from the boat lift, the best course of action during preparation is to lower the cradle on the lift all the way to the bottom. Leaving the cradle in the water prevents it from swaying the winds or being lashed harshly by waves in a storm surge, thus protecting the lift itself and the dock.

    If your boat lift has a low-profile installation, it is possible the tide surge could bring corrosive saltwater right into your boat lift motors, switches, and covers. Remove these items from your lift and store in a safe, dry place. Those with a sealed direct-drive system should remove the gear unit as well. Before you do though, lower the cable down to its lowest point as the cable will free spool back down regardless. Last but not least, tighten all the nuts and bolts on the lift so you don’t lose any small parts during a potential storm.

    Saltwater that streams in during the storm surge collects inside your sealed housing and freezes up the gears, and can result in costly replacement and repair costs to get your boat lift operating smoothly again after the storm. Follow these steps in the event that the state’s decade-long winning streak ends this year, and you’ll be prepared to weather the storm!

     

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    Clearwater, FL 33765
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