Florida Engineering Society (FES): Engineers Prepared for Disaster

By David Cowan Jr., P.E., ENV SP, Municipal Services Project Manager, Baxter & Woodman

Preparing for disaster and crisis requires a holistic approach that combines technology, strategic planning and collaboration across various sectors.

Engineers play a key role in this planning process. They develop systems and solutions that ensure efficient responses to crises. From designing resilient infrastructure to creating life-saving technologies, engineers are integral to both disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

As a population, we must remember the importance of this and provide the necessary funding, resources and policies to support engineers in safeguarding communities and vital services against the growing threat of disasters – natural and man-made – as well as other emergencies. Always remember proverbs like: "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail," and "A stitch in time saves nine."

Pre vs. Post Storms - Towns, Villages, Cities, Counties

Municipalities and counties have a lot of work in advance of a storm. This planning starts years in advance with engineers focusing on infrastructure that can withstand extreme conditions.

Engineers are also essential after a storm in evaluating storm damage, helping with the recovery efforts and ensuring that our government-owned infrastructure is up and running as quickly as possible.

Local governments must work closely with municipal staff at all levels and consulting engineers to ensure that after a storm Florida is open for business. Success in this starts with always making sure that the recovery process is integrated into the long-term planning and design.

Being Prepared for Disaster in Space Flight

Another agency that has planning for crises integrated into its soul is NASA. In space flight, disaster preparedness is a matter of life and death, with engineers designing spacecraft and systems that can withstand extreme conditions. Space agencies need to anticipate potential failures, whether technical or environmental, and engineers must be ready to provide solutions and implement emergency protocols.

It is just not possible to run to the store for some ice when the refrigeration system goes down in space. It is not like we can crack the window and let in some of that cold space air.

Aerospace engineers must research, develop and test every possible scenario to keep astronauts safe in the face of unforeseen challenges in space. They must have redundancy in their system and plan for every calamity.

Resilient Healthcare: Ensuring Continuity and Safety in Crisis Situations

Healthcare systems are critical during disasters, requiring robust operations to protect patients and staff. Engineers work hard to ensure that backup power systems, such as generators, are in place to keep hospitals running when the main power grid fails, ensuring that life-saving equipment like ventilators remain operational.

Additionally, hospital administrators and engineers help design resilient supply chains to quickly deliver essential medical supplies during crises, even when roads or airports are damaged. Protection from strong winds, water and fire is another priority.

New designs include developing storm-resistant buildings, flood barriers and fireproof materials to safeguard healthcare facilities. This type of forward thinking ensures that when people need healthcare, the hospital is there to provide it.

Water & Power Grid Resilience: Addressing Natural Disasters, Terror Attacks, and Climate Change

The stability of the water, sewer and power grid is increasingly threatened by natural disasters, terror attacks and the unpredictable effects of climate change.

Engineers play a critical role in designing resilient systems in all forms of infrastructure.

We recently saw in Western North Carolina how the old paradigm of design just does not hold true anymore. We need to design for future conditions and rehabilitate systems as frequently as we can afford as a society. I want to emphasize the storm we saw in WNC was something that we never anticipated, but we can in the future.

We can also build back with the future in mind. We can develop advanced filtration systems, backup water supplies and more flexible power grids that can quickly adapt to disruptions.

Renewable energy can provide a part of the solution to these challenges by offering sustainable alternatives, such as solar, wind and hydro technologies, that can support essential services during crises. These renewable sources reduce dependence on aging infrastructure, helping ensure the continuous availability of water and power when traditional systems fail.

We must prioritize investments in infrastructure, renewable energy-based power sources and modernized systems to create a more reliable and resilient approach to managing our infrastructure during emergencies.

Wildfires and Air Monitoring: Responding to New Risks From Old Foe

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change and fire suppression policies. Urban sprawl makes wildfires more costly when fires occur around and in developed areas. Proactive maintenance of wild areas with prescribed burns can help.

When engineers design fire-resistant infrastructure, safe evacuation routes and early detection systems, they reduce loss of human life. Engineers also play a key role in wildfire response, designing advanced firefighting tools and equipment.

They also design air quality monitoring equipment which is crucial, particularly during wildfires, where hazardous pollutants can severely impact public health. Engineers develop, deploy and maintain air monitoring systems that provide real-time data, enabling swift actions to protect communities. We must constantly track air quality, ultimately safeguarding public health during fire crises and other environmental emergencies.

Disaster preparedness requires collaboration between engineers and policymakers to create resilient systems for water, power, healthcare and fire management. Engineers are key in developing technologies like renewable energy and advanced monitoring systems to ensure essential services during crises.

If you are interested in hearing more about how the Florida Engineering Society is working to promote these types of activities, please reach out to us or join our society at fleng.org.