National Preparedness Month
September marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month, a nationwide campaign to increase awareness about disaster and emergency preparedness. While the transition from summer to fall naturally brings attention to hurricane season, we know that natural disasters can occur at any time. Through August 2024 (NOAA), the U.S. has experienced several billion-dollar weather disaster events including: 15 severe storms and tornado outbreaks, a tropical cyclone, one wildfire and two winter storm events. The total cost of these events has exceeded $49.6 billion. The total cost of weather events in the last seven years (2017-2023) exceeds $1.1 trillion. More recently, information on Tropical Storm Debby’s flooding and overall damage across the Carolinas and east coast is still being assessed and more storms are likely in the coming weeks.
Please review the natural resource guide for ASA members. Weather related events cause unique challenges for the construction industry. FASA's guide offers guidance, including the following:
- Federal resources to consult or contact before, during and after the event
- Insights on commercial property insurance, specifically for the types of disasters it may not cover flood, hurricanes and earthquakes.
- Legal and contract considerations on projects following a disaster.
Please visit FASA Natural Disaster guide for resources and information.