As hurricanes become increasingly common in many parts of the world, it's important for businesses to be prepared and have adequate protection in place to safeguard their property and employees. One of the most important measures a business can take to protect against hurricane damage is to install hurricane-rated doors. In this blog post, we'll explore real-life examples of businesses that had hurricane-rated doors in place during a storm and how those doors helped protect their property and employees.
Hurricane Katrina and the Louisiana Superdome
One of the most widely publicized examples of hurricane-rated door success comes from Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005. During the storm, the Louisiana Superdome, which was serving as a shelter for thousands of people, was hit by sustained winds of up to 150 miles per hour. However, the dome's hurricane-rated doors held up against the force of the wind, keeping the interior safe from flooding and debris.
The doors at the Superdome were specifically designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and included features such as reinforced glass and steel framing. Without these doors in place, it's likely that the Superdome would have suffered significant damage during Hurricane Katrina and potentially put the thousands of people inside at risk.
Miami International Airport
In 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, causing widespread damage and power outages throughout the state. Despite the storm's intensity, the Miami International Airport was able to keep its doors open throughout the storm thanks to its hurricane-rated doors.
According to airport officials, the doors played a critical role in protecting the airport's infrastructure and preventing water damage from flooding. The airport's hurricane-rated doors were specifically designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour and were equipped with impact-resistant glass and reinforced steel frames.
The Miami International Airport is just one example of how businesses can use hurricane-rated doors to protect against storm damage and ensure business continuity even during the most extreme weather conditions.
The University of Miami
Another example of hurricane-rated door success comes from the University of Miami, which installed hurricane-rated doors throughout its campus following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. When Hurricane Irma hit Florida in 2017, the university's doors held up against the intense winds and prevented significant damage to campus buildings.
According to university officials, the doors were designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 140 miles per hour and were equipped with reinforced glass and steel framing. Thanks to these doors, the university was able to minimize damage to its campus during the storm and quickly resume normal operations once the storm had passed.
Other Hurricane-Rated Door Success Stories
While the examples listed above are some of the most widely publicized examples of hurricane-rated door success, there are many other businesses and organizations that have benefited from installing hurricane-rated doors. For example:
As these real-life examples demonstrate, hurricane-rated doors can be a critical component of a business's disaster preparedness plan. By installing these doors, businesses can protect their property and employees against the destructive forces of hurricanes, minimize damage and downtime, and ensure business continuity even during the most extreme weather conditions. If you're a business owner in a hurricane prone area, contact CDF Distributors for more information or to order your hurricane rated doors today.