Imminent Irma

Tuesday, September 5th, it appeared that Hurricane Irma would have an impact on South Florida. At Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, where I am the Director for Facilities, we began making preparations. Depending on the size of the hurricane, we determine the level to which we take preparations early on. Knowing Irma was at that moment a CAT 5, we began full implementation of our hurricane plan.

The historic Barge was originally designed to break the impact of storms and its water.

The most important first step we do is putting up the armor screen. This process takes several men three hours per screen. Armor screen is a mesh strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds and water surges. It does not prevent wind and water from going through, but it does protect windows and doors from debris…floating or flying. Heavy metal screws on the face of the building hold the top in place. Anchor holes in the limestone allow for eyebolts to be inserted for the bottom to be secured. Straps can be tightened or loosened as needed for a snug fit. 

The first installation is over the historic colored glass doors of the enclosed south loggia. Not only are they historic, but they are a vulnerable weak point in the structure.

Second we cover the newly installed hurricane glass storefront doors of the east loggia…bay side, the area that would be the hardest hit. Why cover hurricane glass doors? Even though they protect the structure and are highly unlikely to be breached, they are still susceptible to projectiles that can marr the glass, which is incredibly expensive. So the mesh actually protects the doors themselves. With surges up to 10 feet from Biscayne Bay, this extra precaution is needed. 

The East Loggia with Armor Screen

Bottom of Armor Screen with Metal Plate Covering a Wall Penetration

Year round we have metal screens installed on the windows. These were put in place after Hurricane Andrew. They have been in place so long that they are beginning to deteriorate, but the windows should still be fine. For extra measure, the windows are screwed shut. In our next round of renovations, the outdated metal screens will be replaced with hurricane glass.

At this time, the water in historic pool is lowered. It can’t be completely emptied because the underground sea water pressure on the outside of the walls would collapse the pool. However, it is lowered as far as it can go to help accommodate some of the surge and help prevent a massive flooding in the adjacent cafe (which is protected by hurricane glass).

It Takes a Really Long Time to Lower an 80,000 (?) Gallon Pool

Just as my team prepares, the collections team begins preparations on the interior… removing and storing fragile objects, moving items to the center of the room and covering them with polypropylene. They install sand bags to keep the doors shut… 32 decorated rooms in all. There are “collections” on the outside of the building. We have wall lanterns that recently restored through a Federal Express grant, and they get taken down for each threat.

Wall Bracket for the Sconce that Was Taken Down

The Courtyard Serves as a Staging Area and Collection Point for Miscellaneous Items

The horticulture team early in the season prunes trees of weak branches. During an actual watch, they start moving vulnerable pots (especially historic ones), tethering together unmovable pots, moving their equipment to a safe location for post hurricane clean up and tying all the garden gates shut.

Moving Vulnerable Pots on the West Side, with Armor Screen in Place

Pots are Tethered Together at the Casino Mound

Pots Tethered to Railings

Wednesday comes and I recommend to the Executive Director that we should close to the public, even though Miami-Dade had not made the call to close offices yet. Being closed would allow us to move us freely and without visitor safety concerns. It was a good call… Miami-Dade County later announced closure for Thursday through Monday.

The maintenance team continues with miscellaneous loose end…storing park benches, trash cans, trouble shooting.

The visitor services team starts packing up the ticket booths, removing computers and other valuable equipment. We do have a portable unit that is moved to what we call the west side (of South Miami Avenue), which is where the Village is (the historic worker side of Vizcaya).

The Portable Ticket Booth is Securely Located in the Village

In lesser storms the Village is not as susceptible. But with Irma we took all measures of protection. Some buildings have the metal screens and some have custom made storm shutters. I had help, but this was a big part of what I personally did. Here is a step by step process for the shutters.

The Metal Shutters (permanently covered with strong plexiglass on the exterior, or backside when open) Are Closed and Metal Bars (not shown) Secure Them Together with Metal Screws

The Historic Screens are Latched into Place

The Windows are Shut and Locked

Blinds are Pulled to Indicate to Everyone that the Window is Secure

Sometimes You Find Something That Makes You Smile

While there are teams that handle the bulk of preparations, staff members have to take care of their personal work spaces.

Phones, Computers, and All other Electrical Devices Must Be Unplugged in the Event of Power Surge or Water Infiltration 

Furniture is Moved Away From Windows and All Electronic Devices are Covered with Heavy Garbage Bags and All Interior Doors are Closed

Before I can leave, I take a tour throughout the property. I need to be sure everything has been done.

With all the preparations complete, there are just a couple more final steps. Security walks the entire site taking video and photographs of existing conditions prior to the storm. This step is needed for insurance purposes as well as for documentation needed during post hurricane restoration efforts.

There are several flood doors around the ground floor and basement perimeter as well as internally in several locations in the basement. These huge solid metal doors have air gaskets that inflate and remind me of what you might find on a submarine. They are the last fortification.

This flood door is on the north face of the structure and you can see the ocean in the easterly direction.

At least two staff members volunteer to literally ride out the storm in the house. One is from the security team; one is from the maintenance team. Hopefully one or the other will be able to handle situations that arise during the event and immediately after. We joke that they can sleep in any room or any bed they like the most, but in reality it is more like camping. They are supplied with food and water and all the normal utilities. If the power goes out, Vizcaya has a huge generator that has its own building and can supply the historic house with all the power it needs to keep the electricity on as well as the HVAC (with dehumidifiers required for the precious collections). 

With a firm pull of the outside lever by the Security Chief, the last storm door is shut, locking the volunteers in. This step will be done on Friday when the effects of Irma will be imminent. 

Irma’s Track, Friday 8:00 AM 

Vizcaya suffered major damage, I want to say in the 20s, and more recently from the infamous Andrew. I recently heard two Andrews cold fit in one Irma. Andrew was like a canon ball; Irma could be more like a nuclear blast. 

Time will tell how this story plays out, but I am hoping and praying that this National Historic Landmark will endure and that even if there is major damage again, that it is not so bad that I don’t have a job to go back to. I have only been with Vizcaya a year and seven months, but it is emblazoned on my heart, and my love for it courses through my veins.