Lessons from Hurricane Harvey

The most urgent need in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is to rescue and shelter those left homeless. In the weeks and months ahead, however, the design and construction community must pause to learn from the storm so we can build better and more resilient structures and communities in the future.

One important lesson is to build with materials that can survive floods and wet conditions without being destroyed by water or ruined by mold. The most widely used ceiling products - made from gypsum board or mineral fiber - are easily damaged by floods. In Texas, many tons of these ceilings are now soggy debris, festering with fungus, waiting to be carted to landfills, and adding to the State's economic and environmental woes.

Under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) guildelines, Flood Damage-Resistant Material Requirements for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas under the National Flood Insurance Program; Technical Bulletin 2 (2008), Ceilume products are made from Class 4 Materials that "...can survive wetting and drying and may be successfully cleaned after a flood to render them free of most harmful pollutants. Materials in this class may be exposed to and/or submerged in floodwaters in interior spaces and do not require special waterproofing protection."