After our first year in business at Forum Forensics, our team had its plate full between structural damage, natural disasters, and various claims. This year we have assessed over one hundred properties and claims. The storm season was active this year and brought a fair share of damage to the coast of Florida. The NOAA (National Oceanic and atmospheric administration) reported $112.9 billion in damage left behind from Hurricane Ian. Not to mention the 20 inches of rain that caused severe flooding in central and eastern Florida regions, leading to extensive water damage.
The Forum Forensics team was honored to help make a difference in the lives of claims adjusters, aggregators, and neighbors this year. In addition to providing inspections and services to our clients, our team and service area expanded. Learn more below about our impact, growth, and future plans.
Our Impact
Hurricane season came with a vengeance this year, with Hurricane Ian being the costliest hurricane in Florida's history. The storm was shy of category five with winds at 149 mph, scattered tornadoes, and flooding. In addition, the rising storm surge showed water levels 9 to 15 feet above ground in places like Fort Myers Beach, Estero Island, and Sanibel Island.
Rainfall in Central Florida ranged from 10-20 inches, with major floods along the St. JohnsRiver, Lake George, Crest Lake, Little Wekiva River, Dunns, and Shingle Creek affecting Seminole, Orange, Lake, Putnam, and Osceola counties. Reports indicate an estimated 5,000 structures were destroyed, and 30,000 were damaged. The Forum Forensics team visited many Florida cities, including Ft. Myers, responding to hurricane insurance claims throughout 2023, helping our neighbors return to normalcy.
Expanding Our Service Area
Our service area at Forum Forensics has expanded immensely this year. The damage brought on by tornadic weather events lead to our team buildin connections in different southeast regions. Historically, we provided any structural inspection for the state of Florida and would provide disaster relief inspections for coastal areas in the southeast region. Today, we have the infrastructure to provide disaster relief inspections throughout the entire southeast area.
For catastrophic events, we serve the southeast regions from Texas to North Carolina and hold professional engineering licensure in over 30 states. Our team is constantly growing to keep up with our expanding service area.
Expanding Our Team
This year at Forum Forensics, we welcomed two new team members, one specializing in technical reporting and the other an engineering training. The investment in a technical reporter was made because accurate reporting is vital to the outcome of forensic engineering investigations. In many instances, this report may be the only means for communicating the details and conclusions of the investigation, which must correctly include the opinions of industry experts. In addition, the technical writer ensures reports are delivered on schedule. Our team has worked together this year to fill the gaps, help one another work in unison, and be more effective overall to better serve our clients.
Our Future
Being headquartered in Central Florida, we understand the devastation of weather events and hope the damage will be minimal for our community. Unfortunately, weather experts predict increased violent weather events due to climate change. The Forum Forensics team is here to respond if the frequency and intensity increase with understanding and compassion.
Another line of service we anticipate will grow is aging building inspections. Aging buildings can pose a genuine threat and liability to occupants, owners, and other surrounding infrastructure if not inspected and maintained correctly. A building or structure is considered aging after it reaches 25 years or older. Around this age, facilities can begin to experience a breakdown in the envelope and structural components.
One thing is certain: time continues, and it isn't possible to prevent a building from aging. Still, building owners can avoid serious issues by staying up to date with building inspections. Proper inspections are vital in Florida, especially in coastal areas. In Florida, it is a legal requirement that condominiums and cooperative buildings are inspected every ten years after 30 years of age and after 25years in coastal regions. The Forum Forensics team has an understanding of aging buildings and legal requirements for owners.
Thank You
This year we have gained new relationships and opened doors to more opportunities. It has led us to expand our service area, gain new clients, and grow our team. We could not be more thankful for our talented Forum Forensics team for serving our clients with constant transparency and responsiveness.
We look forward to many more years of serving you and the industry. Our expert team is always ready to assist; contact Forum Forensics today.
Cited:
Hurricane Ian: 156 Deaths,$112B in Damages | Florida Realtors
