Two Hurricanes In Less Than Two Years In Beaumont / SE Texas Are Post-Storm Properties More Susceptible To Fire Risk?
Potentially Compromised Electrical Components
Straight sustained high winds, 15-20% mph higher gusts, hopping twisters, sidewinder twisters, tornados, downbursts, and microburst winds.
Storm winds shake structures, throw debris, and push rain/water into houses, schools, businesses and other structures, and can create a immediate fire hazard, or a potentially delayed hazard.
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Water is a natural solvent, and water is a natural bridge for electricity to cross, and wiring and/or an outlet affected just so can cause a short and arcing that can catch surrounding material on fire.
Too, power "surges" into a structure, on a daily basis, because of intensity of usage. For example, more power flow is needed as electrical water heaters, AC, washer/dryer, and etc. are used, and less is needed when those items are idle.
A electrician explained that rising and falling electrical demand cause the main lead wires (into a strucures main electrical service "box") to expand and contract, causing the area around the set screws that hold them snug, to loosen, which causes the leads to have the potential to short out / arc. He recommended that the set screws be inspected and tightened every 5 years.
Besides that issue, what about storm damaged structures that are in areas that the electricity has been lost due to downed power lines, and then when the power grid comes back on-line, power surges throughout neighborhoods?
Does Historical Fire Risk Data Indicate That:
Structural fires happen at higher rates after major and minor wind/rain storms then before the storms?
Older and/or certain structures are higher risk?
Certain areas are at higher risk?
Because of high wind and salt water penetration, and corrosion, structures in areas closer to the ocean / gulf are at higher risk?
Electrical wiring, outlets, and other electrical components inside and outside of structures are "stressed" by power surges, and can short out and arc?
Unaddressed weather proofing of post-storm affected structures allows ambient moisture to overwhelm and corrode electrical components and fixtures in modest income homes?
A relaxed approach to addressing post-storm water damage and building maintenance, and continued water penetration, to private and public structures, exists?
Mandatory electrical flow measurement inspections should be conducted on public and private structures after major storms?
Public assistance funding should be available for modest income households that need/want to be checked for fire risk?
Fire departments can produce mature post-storm fire risk/incident data for developing cost effective electrical fire prevention protocols?
