Making Worship Center Stronger Provides Haven In Time Of Disaster
Release Date: November 12, 2004
Release Number: 1539-271
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Jeanne
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
PUNTA GORDA -- A church pastor and his congregation are thankful for the hurricane-resistant features of the First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda Worship Center.
Eight church staff members sheltered safely in the Worship Center while Hurricane Charley, packing winds strong enough to rip the steeple off the church roof, swept through the city. The church, established in 1887, built the new sanctuary in 2001 using new building codes and other storm resistant methods and materials.
“We're thankful for the strength and integrity of the structure,” said Paul Russell, pastor of the 815-member church. The Worship Center blocked the wind from hitting directly on the Fellowship Hall and Religious Education Center. “We may have lost more from those other buildings had the Worship Center not been here to protect them.”
James Murray, the church’s chairman of property and space, said, “When planning began for building the $1.3 million Worship Center, discussion centered on how it could be constructed to exceed the building code and what types of mitigation might be employed.”
Murray is a construction manager for a Punta Gorda-based commercial contractor, has worked in construction since 1961 and is familiar with elements of the building code and mitigation measures that can be taken. Without having taken the appropriate preventive measures, the estimated loss could have exceeded $250,000, he said.
When this project was started, “We weighed façade versus construction,” and spent extra dollars on the masonry, concrete and structural aspects of the building. Laminated arches and beams were used rather than steel construction at an additional cost of $40,000. And that, said Murray, combined with reinforced concrete block walls and “tie-beams,” made the building much stronger and conformed with the Florida Building Code in designing the structure.
There was some cosmetic damage from Hurricane Charley. Flying shingles from another building left tar marks on the Worship Center. Although the prefabricated steeple was ripped from the sanctuary roof by the high wind, there was no damage to the main structure. “It’s just a great structure,” Murray said.
Construction costs were paid through church membership donations and fundraising projects.
Those interested in making their home or other structures safer and more storm-resistant, like the church, can access the FEMA website at www.fema.gov/fima for information on ways to build and rebuild safer and stronger. There is also information on “safe room” construction: rooms that are resistant to the effects of intense hurricane and tornadic winds. Examples of best practices and case studies are available on the Internet from FEMA’s Mitigation Division at http://www.fema.gov/fima/bp.shtm
Florida’s “Handbook for Hazard Mitigation Projects” may also be downloaded from the Internet by going to http://www.floridadisaster.org/BRM and clicking “BRM Publications” under “Resources” in the sidebar.
Mitigation measures used in the construction of the Worship Center saved the building from incurring further damage from Hurricane Charley. Recognizing the benefits of these measures, church leaders of the First Baptist Church in Punta Gorda are initiating two additional mitigation measures to strengthen the Worship Center. They are installing storm shutters for the bigger windows and high-impact glass on the structure's smaller windows. High impact glass is able to withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour. With these measures in place, their goal is to have a structure that will serve as a safe, storm resistant community shelter as well as a church.
Having spent the additional money building to a higher standard, Murray stated, “We have absolutely no regrets.”
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 12-Nov-2004 18:25:41