Roofing Space » collapse

East Coast Snow Loads Cause Massive Roof Damages

Jay Martin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:30:36 +0000

The snowpacalpsye, snowmageddon or East Coast Blizzard of 2010 – whatever you call it – it’s leaving an enormous swath of damage across the eastern half of the United States.

Roofing businesses are running at full capacity to keep up with customer requests. Chris Wery said the snow storm has his business running at the highest volume he’s seen in 6 or 7 months.

In Delaware, an Elementary School, Big Lots, Townsend Fire Co Fire Department and a catering company all saw their roofs give way under the weight of the snow. The Fire Dept was taken completely out of service after it’s 100x100ft roof caved in.

Pennsylvania has experience the same fate. In Philadelphia, 51 year old school bus driver James D Boles was killed when the roof over the 2nd story porch he was sitting on collapsed. Neighbors described the sound like “a bomb going off”. The roof of ARBCO Industries Inc’s warehouse near Pittsburgh collapsed late yesterday afternoon, luckily no one was inside. Up the road in Evesham, a Rite Aid’s roof collapsed just 2 hours after the store had shut down.

In Maryland, the Fire House in Carrol County went up in flames after the roof of it’s social hall collapsed and punctured a gas line. A portion of the Smithsonian building’s roof and wall collapsed in Suitland MD from the enormous snow loads causing many to be concerned about the artifacts inside.

The Severn Church Hall roof collapsed in Baltimore, luckily no one was injured. Washington DC just surpassed the most snowfall ever recorded in one season. The previous record of 54.4″ set in 1898-99, fell this week after the snow total for the current season was registered at 54.9 inches.

Benson Park Ice Arena Roof Collapses in Omaha

Jay Martin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:32:08 +0000

Benson Park Ice Arena’s roof partially collapsed over the weekend, forcing management to close the facility for at least a week.

Crews have used poles to stabilize the roof from the inside. Snow blowers were used to clear most of the snow from the roof. Nebraska’s snow and ice accumulation over the past 2 weeks is putting pressure on infrastructure all over state.

Media is covering the event. Watch the video from KETV

Albany School’s Garage Roof Collapses

Jay Martin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:00:12 +0000

The Albany Minnesota School District reported the partial collapse of it’s transportation garage’s roof Friday. The pole barn style structure could not withstand the weight of the wet snow that had fallen for several days. 10 vehicles inside the building were damaged and put out of commission until repairs and inspections can be made.

Superintendent Scott Thielman said the accident’s timing was good because kids will be on holiday break until Jan 4th. Cranes are being brought in today to lift the damaged roof so that the vehicles can be removed.

Thielman said they have backup transportation plans ready to put into action for the students if the vehicles can not be repaired before school resumes next week.