CASE STUDY

 

Hurricane Damage

Flood

 

 

Sea Level Missionary BaptistChurch

Reverend Wesley & Mrs Cindy Wallis

Cody, Sister & Baby Wallis

1102 Hwy. 70 E

Sea Level, North Carolina 28577

 

The Sea Level Missionary Baptist Church was affected by category 3 flood water (Black Water) during hurricane Isabel.  The flood waters rose to an elevation approximately 14" above the finished floor.

 

 

POST FLOOD CONDITIONS

 

ET first examined this structure on or about September 24.  The floor, sub floor and lower structural framing material had been exposed to the original flood waters for about three hours and had remained wet for 10 days before demolition and drying activities began on September 26.

 

Using the Protimeter Moisture Measurement System and the Protimeter Hammer Electrode we determined the following:

 

 

1.         Interior walls contain abnormally high moisture levels from 8" to 18" above the floor elevation.

2.         The interior exposed sub floor and the finished floor measure from 20% to 100% moisture content.

            3.         Floor joists contain measured moisture content of 45% to a depth of 3/8".

            4.         The perimeter beam contains measured moisture content of 20% to a depth of                          3/8".

5.         From the crawlspace the sub floor measured moisture content of 33% to a depth of 3/8".

            6.         The relative humidity inside measured 71% and outside measured 78%.

 

The entire foot print of the church consisting of the Main Sanctuary, Classroom area and Fellowship Hall (approximately 3800 square feet) was involved in the drying activities.  This included the crawlspace area, CMU foundation walls, floor joists, sub floor, lower wall cavity area. 

 

The work consisted of:

 

Ĝ  Installing a vapor barrier in the crawlspace consisting of 6 mil poly to avoid the extra load on the equipment of drying the ground. 

Ĝ  Treating the foundation walls, floor joists, sub floor, base plates and exposed wall cavities with an anti-microbial agent.

Ĝ  Nine LGR 28 gallon per day dehumidifiers and twenty nine high volume air movers (2000 CFM) were used during interior drying activities.

Ĝ  In the crawlspace we used three 85,000 BTU portable furnace producing 165 degree 3% relative humidity air at the rate of 1200 cubic feet per minute in conjunction with eleven high volume air movers (2000 CFM) and three 1250 CFM air mover functioning as an exhaust unit to prevent pressurizing the crawlspace.

Ĝ  Hardwood Floor Drying Equipment.

 

The moisture content of various building materials were measured at acceptable levels and drying activities concluded on October 11,  in the Parsonage, on October 19, in the Main Sanctuary, and on November 13, in the Classroom Area and the Fellowship Hall.

 

All building materials were returned to a dryness condition as good as or better than before the flood on September 18. 

 

 

 

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS BEFORE & AFTER DRYING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Main Sanctuary

 

Area                                                                Before Drying Activities          After DryingActivities

 

Room Left of Entrance Sub Floor                  88%                                         12%

Front Left Sub Floor                                        87%                                         11%

Front Right Sub Floor                                     70%                                         11%

Room Right of Entrance Sub Floor                84%                                         10%

Center of Sanctuary Sub Floor                       87%                                         10%

Crawlspace Floor Joists                                 45%                                         11%

 

Fellowship Hall

 

Sub Floor @ Electrical Panel                          29%                                         9%

Sub Floor @ Kitchen Service Window           28%                                         10%

Sub Floor @ Hall Area                                    26%                                         14%

Crawlspace Floor Joists                                47%                                         11%

 

 

 

 

Classroom Area

 

Area                                                                Before Drying Activities          After Drying Activities

 

Hall Area Sub Floor                                         29%                                         10%

Classroom Sub Floor                                     36%                                         11%

Crawlspace Floor Joists                                 47%                                         11%

 

 

Parsonage

 

Area                                                                Before Drying Activities          After Drying Activities

 

Living Room Sub Floor                                   88%                                         13%

Center Bedroom Sub Floor                            87%                                         12%

Front Corner Bedroom Sub Floor                  87%                                         12%

Back Corner Bedroom Sub Floor                  84%                                         11%

Bathroom Sub Floor                                       87%                                         13%

Kitchen Sub Floor                                           88%                                         13%

Crawlspace Floor Joists                                 45%                                         11%