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.

Seawall Repairs That Can Help Extend the Life of Your Seawall

February 27, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Any waterfront property owner knows just how vital a well-constructed, and well-maintained seawall is to the value and integrity of their property. Whether you’re a homeowner or developer, protecting your property against storm surges, corrosion, deterioration and damage can be one of the most stressful aspects of waterfront living. However, there are precautions that can be taken to protect your property against these common problems whether your seawall was built five, or 25 years ago.

How to Help Extend the Life of Your Seawall

As a leader in marine construction, we have helped countless homeowners and developers extend the life of their seawalls using some of these common types of seawall repairs.

Make Sure Your Well Point Drainage System is Working Properly

A well point drainage system is a series of well points placed along a trench, all connected to a header which is attached to a pump. This type of drainage system can be installed at the site of an existing seawall and can help prolong the life of your seawall by alleviating pressure build up on your seawall that may cause future damage to or weakening of your structure.

Repair and Properly Maintain Secondary Anchors

A secondary anchor, if installed and maintained correctly, can extend the life of your seawall by 10 plus years. Used as a supplement to an existing, possibly failing/failed, anchor, secondary anchors typically consist of a one-inch diameter coal tar epoxy coated steel rods (often referred to as tie back rods), encased in PVC, anchored with a concrete anchor block (often referred to as a deadman).

Repair and Replace Caps and Tie Backs as Necessary

Repairing or replacing these elements on your seawall can be vital in extending the life of your existing seawall. A replacement cap can be installed with limited disruption to the surrounding structure, and can not only help increase the strength of your structure, but also improve the curb appeal of your property. Typically, a little more effort is needed to repair or replace a tie back rod, but doing this will help stabilize your seawall and provide added strength in dealing with the elements your wall is up against every day.

Check for Deteriorating Grouting Joints

A deterioration in the joints of your seawall can allow water to flow in where it’s not supposed to be, causing erosion and compromising the integrity of your structure. Repairing these joints using a chemical compound to fill in the weaknesses allows for a much smoother and faster repair of your seawall than many other methods. Instead of taking months to repair your wall, possibly costing as much as it would to just replace it, new grouting joints can help extend the life of your seawall, saving you time and money in the long run.

Gibson Marine Construction Can Help You Extend the Life of Your Seawall

Protecting your property’s seawall is just as important as protecting your home and safety. To preserve this vital structure, contact us to see how we can extend the life of your seawall through seawall repairs, possibly even increasing the value of your property! Visit our Contact Us page, or call us directly at (727) 942-3111.

What’s Wrong with Your Seawall and How To Fix It

April 7, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

When it comes to shoreline engineering, there exists a good deal of information about how physical structures are adversely impacted by the natural process of erosion.

However, when it comes to saving and protecting people’s homes, it is possible to keep people and nature in perfect harmony. Trust us. We know our stuff.

Seawalls that have outlived their usefulness can be environmentally detrimental.

In the past it seemed that all people cared about when it came to seawalls was keeping the water out.

However, modern-day consumers are not only green when it comes to the environment, but also in terms of their bank accounts.

People want to make purchase decisions that will give them more value for their money. Older seawalls just don’t meet the requirements for being “green” in either sense.

Why Your Old Seawall Is Gray Not Green

Older seawalls are typically concrete structures – which may be considered ironic because water and salt are extremely damaging to concrete! With waves constantly crashing into the seawall, the salted water gets into the tiny pores and cracks of the wall which will start eating away at the concrete. This is not to discredit concrete seawalls, but it is essential to completely evaluate an environment before deciding what material best serves the purpose. Today, concrete seawalls are mostly appropriate for areas with minimal wave action.

Not only can the material of antiquated seawalls do a disservice, the shape of the structure can be a problem.

At one time, seawalls were built vertically. Vertical structures reflect wave energy back into the ocean after a strike, and ultimately alter natural sea currents. Wave and current energy will concentrate at the ends of the wall and increase erosion at these points, defeating the purpose of a seawall. Changing currents also have ecological impacts including loss of habitat and reduced biodiversity.

How You Can Protect Your Property and the Environment

The secret to shoreline stabilization is to use site-specific methods to balance the needs of waterfront residents with nature’s behaviors. There are however, a few key points that are applicable to any situation:

Seawalls should be sloped

Unlike a steep wall, the gradual sloping of a seawall will help absorb the energy of waves, and decrease erosion. Oftentimes, an existing seawall can be complemented with a sloping riprap base to ease the waves’ impact with the wall.

Use energy absorbing materials

If you live in an area with very high wave activity, a new riprap wall or incorporating riprap into your existing wall will be the perfect option. Riprap is extremely effective in absorbing wave energy. It is usually made of granite, limestone, or concrete rubble from construction sites. Not only will it prevent erosion in a more natural way, but it is a good re-use of sustainable materials.

Use eco-friendly materials

Although vinyl is derived from crude oil, it is a highly environmentally-friendly material. Vinyl is recyclable and can be used for many more purposes in comparison to other types of plastics. Unlike concrete, it is extremely resistant to moisture and humidity which will increase the lifespan of your seawall (and go easy on your bank account).

Repair or Despair? How the Condition of a Seawall Affects Your Home’s Value

March 31, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

Whether you’re thinking about buying a waterfront home or selling your little piece of paradise, your seawall is an important factor in determining the value of your property. Although investors and avid vacationers are always on the lookout for waterfront properties, an old, rickety, and dysfunctional seawall can be a turnoff to potential buyers, leaving you with no choice but to settle for a less-than-average bid for the property you once loved so much.

But why is a seawall even important? You’re ideally situated with ocean or gulf views – that’s what matters most, right? Not exactly. Home value can be severely decreased by a neglected seawall. On the other hand, a strong, seawall with integrity can actually increase home value! If you already have a seawall it is worth the few extra bucks to refurbish what can be an overlooked piece of your home.

Here are three reasons why giving your seawall some love before you sell will actually benefit you:

Seawalls are an investment

A seawall will cost approximately $350 per linear foot, depending on what materials are used. This is why if the property already has a seawall, it will save the buyers a lot of money.

Most common seawall fixes include:

Well point drainage systems
Secondary anchors
New cap and tie backs
Grouting joints

Help! Erosion is stealing my land!

Ever notice how one day the beach shore looks nice and levelled, and the next day a “step” or level is created where the sand used to be? This is caused by the waves repeatedly crashing on the shore taking everything in their path. This can happen over time to your property’s shoreline due to erosion. Coastal erosion is the wearing away and removal of land by wave action, tidal currents, drainage, or high winds. The lack of a proper seawall will, over time, decrease the size of your property. A seawall is imperative for you to coexist in such a setting, while establishing boundaries. An anemic seawall will fall into disrepair while pitting you against the force of Mother Nature. You will always be the biggest loser in that battle.

Recreation and Seawall Safety

Because Florida is a hurricane area, buyers are especially concerned with safety when it comes to waterfront vacationing and residency. A seawall protects from hurricanes and flooding, which is another reason for its ability to increase a home’s value.

In addition, an article from National Geographic explains how sea levels have risen from 4-8 inches over the past century with a continuing annual rise of 0.13 inches.

A seawall decreases the risk of landmass loss from rising sea levels. In addition, seawalls maximize access of the land and provide recreational opportunities and real estate. It is easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves enjoying the property when they don’t have to worry about safety hazards and the associated expenses represented by seawall repair expenses.