MSC Greenhouses: Resilience in the Face of Hurricane Melissa

On October 28th , Hurricane Melissa (category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale) caused severe damage and flooding in the Caribbean. As it passed through Jamaica, it encountered one of our greenhouses, specially designed to withstand winds of up to 180 km/h .

Our K3 model , which features special reinforcements (extra thick pillars, vertical trusses and front reinforcements), successfully withstood the hurricane , without the structure being significantly affected.

From the Design Department , with more than 35 years of experience in the climatic conditions of the region, we have developed this model ideal for tropical and subtropical climates , which together with the use of cold or anti-thermal plastics and shade screens , guarantees resistance to winds above 130 km/h .

Taking this opportunity, we would like to share some recommended actions to prepare for the arrival of hurricanes, cyclones, or tropical storms :

• Ensure the safety of workers and all other persons present at the site.
  • Plan possible evacuation routes and transportation to the nearest shelters .
  • Close and reinforce doors and windows.
  • Prune trees or shrubs that may pose a hazard and clean gutters, ditches, and trenches to facilitate water flow.
  • Harvest as much of the produce as possible.
  • Remove plastic sheeting, netting, and thermal screens to allow free airflow through the greenhouse structure.
  • Remove loose objects that could damage the structure (signs, tarpaulins, etc.).
  • Secure movable parts of the greenhouse (windows, thermal screens, etc.) and anything susceptible to being blown away by the wind.
  • Remove sharp objects that could act as blades.
  • Cut off the power supply.
  • Collect irrigation pipes and crop lines , and store sensitive equipment such as centrifugal pumps, control panels, irrigation heads, or agricultural machinery.

The goal is to maintain, as far as possible, only the structure of the greenhouse , minimizing components that may offer resistance to the air .

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