Hurricane Ready
By Bari Auerbach

Forecasters are predicting a very active 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 16 named storms - 8 to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which 4 to 6 could become major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher. But thanks to the proactive efforts of the Sunny Isles Beach Commission, staff members and the Police Department - the city is “hurricane ready.”

At the May 18 City Commission meeting, many of the items on the agenda pertained to hurricane safety, preparation and damage restoration issues.

City Manager A. John Szerlag explained, “Our city staff has developed a brochure regarding hurricane preparations and evacuation procedures that will be mailed directly to residents…It also features links to other city resources such as our website and cable TV channel that help impart vital information to residents and business owners.

“A hurricane supply checklist has also been published in the Sunny Isles Beach Sun newspaper, compiled by Alyce Hanson, Director of Administrative Services Department; and just recently, our city representatives attended the Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Orlando.”

Vice Mayor Roslyn Brezin noted, “Although we’re doing everything we possibly can to protect those who will be here during the storm, we don’t want them to feel it’s a substitute if an evacuation notice is given. It’s very important that when we do have meetings where we provide information pertaining to safety during a hurricane [citizens] attend and encourage their neighbors and friends to attend as well.”

‘Up and Running’
During the May 18 Commission meeting, an ordinance passed on first reading requiring owners and operators of food stores and pharmacies in Sunny Isles Beach to remain open to the public during local states of emergency by using alternate energy sources - such as emergency generators.

“This ordinance was previously adopted as an emergency ordinance a few months back,” Mayor Norman S. Edelcup explained. “It became void after a certain time period so we need to readopt it now.”

City code enforcement officers will be conducting inspections to ensure food stores and pharmacies have complied with the ordinance by June 1. Mayor Edelcup recommended, “When we adopt this ordinance, we should waive any permit fees for anyone putting in a generator since this is something that benefits the city and the residents.”

A similar ordinance also passed on first reading at the May 18 Commission meeting mandating owners and operators of high rise buildings with a total height of 75 feet or higher located in the city of Sunny Isles Beach to have alternate energy sources including emergency generators with sufficient electrical charge to operate at least one elevator unit within each building during a declared state of emergency [as well as hallway lights].

Speaking on behalf of the Sunny Isles Beach Citizens’ Coalition, its president Henry Kay noted, “To the best of my knowledge, Sunny Isles Beach is the only city specifically addressing this problem and putting it in no uncertain terms that stores and people who serve the citizens must do so with responsibility. We give [the Commission] a big round of applause…We care deeply about the fact that you care about us and you are doing the right things.”

Building Codes
In light of the fact many Sunny Isles Beach property owners are still contending with damages to their homes form last hurricane season, Building Official Clay Parker issued a report to help clarify what the Florida Building Code requires regarding restorations.

“At a Dade County Board of Rules and Appeals meeting on April 20, a formal interpretation of the Florida Building Code was made on two issues,” Clay Parker said. “They interpreted the replacement of damaged glass and glazing in curtain wall systems and the replacement of damaged glass and glazing for balcony and railing systems in safeguard systems.

“[Regarding] the replacement of damaged glass and glazing in curtain wall systems, [it was determined] exterior windows are a repair pursuant to Chapter Four of the existing Florida Building Code - unless a dangerous or hazardous condition exists…If only the glass broke in these window units, it can be replaced back to the code it was built under - if it can be certified that the frames are undamaged.

“In Chapter Four, they also [discuss] ‘below substantial structural damage.’ Repairs to buildings damaged to a level below substantial structural damage shall be allowed to be made with materials, methods and strengths in existence prior to the damage - unless such conditions are deemed dangerous…New structural frames used in the repair of damaged buildings shall comply with the 2004 Florida Building code…This is saying that if the frames are damaged, the repairs have to be made up to the current code.”

Parker also explained, “The term ‘dangerous’ applies to any portion of a building without sufficient strength or stability that is not anchored, attached or fastened in place and capable of resisting wind pressures of two-thirds of that specified in the current Florida building code…So if you have broken glass like the Pinnacle had in floor-to-ceiling glass or curtain wall systems, it can be replaced with glass that meets two-thirds of today’s current code - if the frames are not damaged.

“For windows and doors, if a professional engineer certifies frames are undamaged and in good condition, then the city can issue a permit for glass replacement to the code the building was built under…The remaining undamaged glass can remain - as long as it meets the code it was built under.

“If windows and doors have damaged frames - the standard for impact resistance shall be adhered to pursuant with Chapter 16 of the Florida Building Code. The city can issue a permit for glass and frame replacement to 2004 codes - and the remaining undamaged glass and frame can remain as long as it meets the code it was built under.

“Regarding floor-to-ceiling glass and curtain wall systems – if the frames are certified by engineers as undamaged - then the new glass repair must still meet two-thirds of the current 2004 building code. Most of the glass at Pinnacle will meet two thirds of the building code so they’re in pretty good shape there. If frames are damaged, total replacement must meet the 2004 building code…undamaged glass and frames can remain as long as they meet the code they were built under.

“The replacement of glass and glazing for balcony railings and safeguard systems, by definition, is within a “hazardous location” and shall be replaced in accordance with the existing Florida building code…Safety glazing will be permitted as an equal alternate if tested by an accredited laboratory with a kinetic energy impact test…Any remaining undamaged glass and frames can remain as long they meets the code they were built under.”

“There are many sober conclusions,” Mayor Edelcup said. “It looks like rather than taking the safest way of handling the situation, the County has chosen to take risks and perhaps gamble with the lives of some people. I would have hoped they would have [had stricter guidelines for] replacement requirements - but we have to follow the law and accept their decisions.

“I’m thinking we’ll be watching the same glass break again next time a hurricane comes through because of the inability to upgrade the systems…[I believe] more time and more hurricanes will have to go under more scrutiny before [codes] gets tightened up [create] safer conditions.”

Clay Parker emphasized, “[The City] always encourage hurricane shutters and if you have to replace something, we always encourage upgrading to full impact glass.”

Mayor Edelcup added, “If you really value your life, you’ll exceed the standards the County has set up…You can certainly do more to protect yourself.”

Commissioner Lewis J. Thaler noted, “I feel Miami-Dade made the wrong decision with letting [glass] be replaced with the same windows because we’re going to have a similar situation as to what happened before.”

Reiterating the County’s stance, Parker said, “If the glass breaks, [property owners] can replace it back to the code it was built under - but if they have to replace any windows, balconies or frames - it has to come up to today’s code…The only place I feel [the County] let us down was in the interpretation of ‘broken glass’ and looking at it as a repair and minor replacement.

“Glazing around a building should really be controlled by the [condo] association…[The City] will always recommend that you protect yourself, your building and your life as well as you can. We know it’s a lot of [monetary] cost - but at a cost of lives it’s not that big…Your associations can look for low interest loans.”

Mayor Edelcup later said, “We have to state what is allowable under County ordinances - but [the city] can also give advice as to what you should do to maybe exceed what County ordinances are requesting you to do if you really value your life and those of the people surrounding you. When a window blows out, it can blow outside as well and affects people in other apartments and other buildings.”

Construction Debris/Condemned Buildings
“When [a hurricane is approaching] we go to every [construction] job and make sure they tie down all the debris and loose two-by-fours,” Parker said. “We plan on having monthly meetings with developers and contractors to ensure they make the extra effort. We also visit every home that has a [construction] permit to ensure the roof tiles are tied up and strapped down.”

The City Manager also plans to keep the Commission up to date on buildings that have been condemned and the status of appeals and/or impending demolitions. “Even if there are legal issues, life safety should take preeminence,” Mayor Edelcup noted.

‘Hurricane Statistics’
According to hurricane experts, the most damage is caused by storms that reach Category 3, with winds of 111-130 mph, or higher on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane activity.

Scientists were way off the mark in their forecasts of last year's hurricane season. The season starts June 1 each year. The 2005 hurricane season spawned an unprecedented 28 tropical storms, of which 15 became hurricanes. NOAA had predicted 12 to 15 tropical storms, of which it said seven to nine would be hurricanes. Seven of last year's hurricanes were considered "major," while NOAA had predicted only three to five would reach that level.

A record four major hurricanes hit the United States, including Katrina, which devastated New Orleans, killed 1,300 people and caused $80 billion in damage. Rita slammed into Louisiana and Texas, and Wilma briefly became the most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded.

Although NOAA is not forecasting a repeat of last year's season, the potential for hurricanes striking the U.S. is high. The average six-month hurricane season has 10 tropical storms, of which six strengthen into hurricanes when their maximum sustained winds reach at least 74 mph.

U.S. hurricane experts say a sharp rise in Atlantic storm activity since about 1995 is related to a natural shift in climatic conditions and sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic that is expected to last from 15 to 40 years.

Some climatologists however say there are indications that human-induced global warming could be increasing the average intensity of tropical cyclones, although there is no evidence to date that it is affecting the number of hurricanes.

For more information about Sunny Isles Beach hurricane preparedness, phone: 305-947-0606

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