Services: Catastrophe Response Team

Service(s) performed:

Flood Mitigation and Vulnerability Assessment

Summary:

EFI Global was engaged to complete a vulnerability study of a major business complex in order to ascertain information on the existing storm water drainage system affected by Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Investigations included the review of the “as built” construction documentation and infrastructures to determine their design intent and capacities. Interviews were conducted with property maintenance personnel and design professionals of record. Regulatory authorities were also contacted to analyze the drainage design capacities, catastrophic impact and limitations of the existing improvements. This information helped determine the event’s magnitude, establish base flood elevations, and determine property drainage performance. Our investigative efforts resulted in recommending the proper improvements with cost implementation estimates in order to reduce the impact from future similar events.

Service performed:

Hail damage assessment

Summary:

Following a series of hailstorms that occurred in the Midwest U.S., EFI Global engineers quickly responded to conduct hail damage assessments for numerous commercial and residential buildings. Inspections of composition shingle roof coverings to determine the extent of hail damage included the use of random test squares to evaluate the granule loss and mat damage consistent with hail. Inspections were also made of EPDM and built-up roof coverings of commercial buildings, as well as HVAC rooftop units. Our experts also provided repair recommendations as appropriate.

Service performed:

Mold remediation 

Summary:

To address water and mold damage incurred as result of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Mississippi coastal areas in 2005, EFI Global performed mold investigation, surveying, and remediation services at one of the nation’s leading facilities for the design, engineering, construction, and life cycle support of major surface ships for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, international navies, and commercial vessels of all types.  The property encompasses approximately 178 acres of land with approximately 82 various buildings including warehouses, storage facilities, and office buildings.  The assessments included reviewing with building and engineering personnel background information relating to moisture intrusion by the hurricane. 

This was followed by walk-throughs to identify areas of visible moisture damage, collecting mold samples and analyzing the results in our on-site laboratory.  Our experts provided work procedures and remediation protocols, remediation drawings of each area requiring remediation activities, and on-site personnel to monitor and observe the remediation activities. 

Following the cleanup of all water/mold damaged materials, our team performed visual inspections in addition to bioaerosol (viable and total fungal) air sampling to screen for the presence and relative abundance of airborne molds.

Services Performed

Emergency remediation response, industrial hygiene, asbestos consulting and mold/indoor air quality (IAQ) testing

Summary

During the summer of 2008, major flooding of the Cedar River occurred which covered the downtown area in floodwaters. Many buildings including municipal and county government facilities needed to be cleaned, repaired and returned to service. Our Catastrophe Response Team responded quickly to conduct environmental consulting and testing services on 15 municipal and county government facilities located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Our services included moisture mapping, IAQ studies, sampling and testing for airborne contaminants, asbestos surveys and remediation oversight. The buildings included the courthouse, jail, sports facilities, water treatment plant as well as various office and warehouse buildings.