On October 28, Hurricane Melissa, category 5 on the Saffir Simpson hurricane scale, caused severe damage and flooding across the Caribbean. As it passed through Jamaica, it encountered one of MSCs greenhouses, a structure specifically engineered to withstand winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour.
"Our K3 model, which includes special reinforcements such as extra thick pillars, vertical trusses and front reinforcements, successfully resisted the hurricane without the structure suffering significant damage," the company states.
© MSC
The company notes that its design department, with more than 35 years of experience working in regional climate conditions, has developed a model suited to tropical and subtropical climates. Combined with the use of cool or anti thermal plastic covers and shading screens, the structure is designed to resist winds above 130 kilometers per hour.
MSC shared a list of recommended actions for growers facing hurricanes, cyclones or tropical storms:
- Ensure the safety of workers and anyone present at the site
- Plan evacuation routes and transport to the nearest shelters
- Close and reinforce doors and windows
- Trim trees or bushes that may pose a risk and clean canals or ditches to allow water flow
- Harvest as much production as possible
- Remove plastic covers, netting and thermal screens so air can flow freely through the structure
- Remove any objects that could damage the greenhouse such as signs, tarps or loose materials
- Secure moving elements of the greenhouse such as windows or screen systems and any item that may be blown by the wind
- Remove sharp objects that could act as blades
- Cut electrical power
- Gather irrigation pipes and crop lines and store sensitive equipment such as pumps, control panels, irrigation heads or machinery
© MSC
"The goal is to leave only the greenhouse structure intact, reducing the number of components that create wind resistance," MSC concludes.
For more information:
MSC Greenhouses
https://invernaderosmsc.com/
