Every year, communities across the country are impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. While first responders and emergency management teams focus on saving lives and restoring essential services, structural engineers play an essential role in helping communities recover safely.
This topic was recently explored in “Answering the Call: Structural Engineers and Disaster Response,” published by STRUCTURE Magazine and written by Klaus Perkins, PE, SE, Raleigh Department Manager at Bennett & Pless. The article highlights the important work structural engineers perform after disasters and the impact they have on helping communities recover safely. It serves as a reminder that structural engineering is not only about designing resilient buildings, but also about protecting people long after construction is complete.
Assessing Safety When It Matters Most
one of the first questions property owners, business leaders, and public officials ask is:
Is the building safe to occupy?
The answer is not always obvious. Buildings that appear to have only minor damage may have experienced significant structural movement, while others with visible damage may still be structurally sound.
Structural engineers are trained to evaluate how a building has responded to extreme loading and determine whether it can continue to safely support occupants. Their assessments help answer critical questions, including:
- Is the building safe to enter or reoccupy?
- Are temporary stabilization measures needed?
- What repairs are necessary before the building can be used again?
- Is demolition required, or can the structure be restored?
These evaluations provide building owners and emergency officials with the information they need to make informed decisions while prioritizing public safety.
Supporting Community Recovery
Disaster response extends far beyond individual buildings. Structural engineers often work alongside emergency management agencies, building officials, architects, contractors, and other professionals to assess damage across entire communities.
Their role is to provide objective, technical evaluations that identify which buildings are safe, which require further investigation, and which present immediate hazards. These assessments enable communities to prioritize resources and begin rebuilding as safely and efficiently as possible.
Resilience Starts Before Disaster Strikes
While post-disaster assessments are an important part of the profession, the work of structural engineers begins long before a natural disaster occurs.
Thoughtful structural design, adherence to modern building codes, and close coordination with the project team all contribute to buildings that are better equipped to withstand extreme events. Whether designing facilities in hurricane-prone regions, areas of elevated seismic activity, or locations susceptible to high winds, resilience is a key consideration throughout the design process.
Every project presents an opportunity to improve safety, reduce risk, and strengthen the built environment for the future.
Engineering with Purpose
At Bennett & Pless, we believe structural engineering is ultimately about protecting people. While our primary focus is designing safe, practical, and efficient structures, our profession also carries a responsibility to support communities when unexpected events occur.
Whether through resilient structural design, post-event building evaluations, or collaboration with emergency response teams, structural engineers help provide the technical expertise needed to move communities forward after disaster strikes.
Read the Full Article
This blog provides a high-level overview of the important role structural engineers play in disaster response. For a deeper perspective, we encourage you to read “Answering the Call: Structural Engineers and Disaster Response,” written by Klaus Perkins, PE, SE, Raleigh Department Manager at Bennett & Pless, and published in STRUCTURE Magazine.
In the article, Klaus discusses post-disaster building assessments, the work of the Structural Engineers Emergency Response (SEER) Committee, and the vital role structural engineers play in helping communities recover after natural disasters.