State of Hawaii Emergency Shelter Structural Evaluations

Emergency Shelter Structural Evaluation and Certification per Act 5, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005 and Procedure for Structural Assessment of Buildings for Hurricane Shelter Classification (2008-2014). Gary Chock developed and then updated and taught the standard procedure used by structural engineers engaged by the State of Hawaii to evaluate the wind resistance of buildings presently designated as hurricane shelters. Planning services in connection with establishing the hurricane shelter procedure now used by the Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services in evaluating existing and potential shelters; developed evaluation and documentation procedures for on-site survey and evaluation of existing and potential shelter facilities.

1. Established the due diligence responsibilities for shelter evaluation and reporting.
2. Created building data forms, survey procedures, and risk-based documentation forms that are standardized.
3. Conducted field studies on designated buildings to demonstrate and validate the procedures and develop an example evaluation report.
4. Conducted training on the evaluation and documentation procedures.
5. Coordinated and produced a master report on structural assessments of 29 hurricane shelters statewide and developed prioritized retrofits.

Martin & Chock is presently involved in assessment and design of shelter structural retrofits on all islands.