A year after the worst of the 2017 Hurricane Season

The IEMES, PSC (CHES) team experienced the rippling effect from the weather systems that developed in the Caribbean Region last year’s hurricane season. Aside from the necessary business shut down with very limited communication with our team and clients for a couple of weeks, the team experienced external logistical frustrations as our clients begun requesting a wide variety of services needed to attend the aftermath of the hurricanes.

At the time, our lead project engineers, Carmen and Hanna, had help from three (3) amazing ladies that exposed their maturity and professional side in the worst of times. Aurimar Rodríguez (as accountant, administrator & part-time field worker), Natalia Marrero and Rebeca Cintrón (both as Environmental Engineering Interns at the time) were essential to starting up and maintain our services after the hardest hit to our island, Hurricane Maria, came through.
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The administrative team was able to accomodate amenities for them to begin working as promptly as possible by initially equipping an external facility used as an office and storage, located closer to their residences; and, to the best of our ability, providing meals and other provisions throughout the day and for them to take back home. It was all possible thanks to a strong team effort strengthened by each of the members’ enviable psychological health and strength, as well as good safety culture, sincere trust, and respect.

Some examples of services provided during this period include:

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Surveys, mainly to identify and characterize potential indoor mold growth created by the so many and commonly observed water damages.
• Mold Monitoring and Remediation: Our office partnered with professional mold mitigation contractors to conduct qualified mold identification and remediation projects. Services were  provided during such period to industrial, commercial and residential clients.

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• Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Surveys to identify contaminants to be adequately handled at affected structures during their renovation and/or reconstruction phase. Our office also managed abatement projects designing best work practices to control asbestos and lead in such permitted projects.
• Commercial and industrial facilities inspections of damages. In some cases, we partnered with professionals specialized in areas such as electrical engineering, land surveying, among others, whenever specific complications presented themselves.
• Our team was also involved in several spill response project management efforts.

On behalf of the administrative team, we appreciate our client’s patience during this time but most of all, their trust in our presence and quality of services.
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Lastly, but not less important, our sincere appreciation to the team members that pulled through during those difficult months, regardless of their personal complications and responsibilities. Our office continues to provide the quality services our clients deserves to this day thanks to your professional contribution.