Chicago, IL, January 11, 1996 (ENN) --Another significant snow storm is blasting its way through the Midwest and is headed for an already blizzard-striken Northeast. With it comes the possibility of another 6-12 inches of wet snow, and a distinct potential for the collapse of any number of buildings in New York, New Jersey, Washington, DC, or other affected areas, according to Clark Staten of the Chicago-based Emergency Response & Research Institute.
Staten, a retired fire department chief and recognized expert in building collapse rescue, said that he is extremely concerned that buildings with flat roofs, already stressed and weakened by more than two feet of snow, may not be able to stand up to the additional weight of another major snow storm. "We already received reports of several building collapses in the New York/NJ metropolitan area, during the original blizzard" Staten said.
"With any additional snow comes an additional danger of catastrophic failure of already overburdened structures," he continued. "We would strongly suggest immediate snow removal from buildings with flat roofs, particularly those large older buildings that might not be as strong as one might imagine", Staten added. "Car dealerships, warehouses, theaters, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and/or other buildings with large expanses of roof surface may be most at risk in the coming storm," Staten added.
According to weather watchers, snow can be a very heavy substance and can increase in weight when its water to air content increases. A cubic foot of snow can weigh from 3-10lbs. With two or more feet of snow already accumulated on roofs, one can easily see that they are bearing a tremendous weight load. That weight will continue to increase as additional snow falls; this is particularly dangerous if the snow is of a dense, wet variety or mixed with sleet.
In closing, Staten said that emergency service resources in the Northeast are already overworked and understaffed and the threat of additional building collapses could add to an already difficult task. Home and business owners are urged to assist firefighters and paramedics by removing as much snow as possible prior to the onset of another possibly devastating storm.
(c)EmergencyNet News Service, 1996, All rights reserved
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