Ingenuity Summer 2019

Hurricane Preparedness Plans for Storage Tank Terminals The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the National Weather Service are also important resources when conducting the inspection. How to Develop an HPP The first step in assembling a HPP is to evaluate the facility as a whole. The geographic and location of the facility will determine the factors that should be addressed in the plan. As you further develop the plan, a few items to consider would be local climatology, topography, inundation models, facility layout, storage tank design and placement, inspection history, and existing plans. The Saffir- Simpson scale is used to evaluate the risk to each storage tank at the facility. In preparation for a storage tank terminal’s encounter with a hurricane, one can analyze the structure’s potential failure modes. The most common failure modes are overturning, roof uplift, sliding, tank shell compression, and buoyancy. These to prevent catastrophic failure. A few standards and guidance documents that are used to prepare an HPP include: • API 650: Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage • API 653: Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration and Reconstruction • UL 142: Steel Aboveground Storage Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids • ANSI /AISC 360-10: Specification for Steel Structural Steel Buildings • ASCE Standard 7-10. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures Region-specific guidance used to perform the analysis will consist of local emergency management guides, correspondence with the USCG Captain of the Port, and reference to existing facility plans. W ith hurricane season underway, it is a practical exercise t o deve l op a Hu r r i cane Preparedness Plan (HPP) to ensure the durability and functionality of a facility’s storage tank terminals. Hurricane Preparedness Plans, developed by engineers and support staff, provide action items to prepare tank terminals to withstand the impacts of varying categories of hurricanes. Common hurricane hazards such as heavy rainfall and inland flooding, tornadoes, storm surge and tidal changes, and high winds can contribute to the failure of a storage tank. Careful forethought and mitigation can reduce the severity of the damage and adequately protect the integrity of a facility. References for an HPP There are standards and guidance in place to evaluate storage tanks and provide recommendations for hardening 10 Pond | www.pondco.com