DR Information

We have been in ongoing communications with our Operations teams from Florida to Virginia as Idalia has continued progressing across land as a Tropical Storm. We are thankful that all of our employees living and working in the states impacted by Idalia are safe and accounted for.

Our Tampa office re-opened today and has resumed normal operations. However, please use your discretion and work remotely if conditions surrounding your home are potentially unsafe.

North Carolina Update

• The North Carolina coast is expected to receive Tropical Storm conditions through this evening, with rainfall and winds diminishing.

• Idalia began moving away from the Outer Banks earlier this afternoon, but rough surf and wind are expected to continue through tomorrow Friday, September 1. Idalia is forecast to move into the western Atlantic into the weekend, with little change in strength expected today, but some gradual weakening could occur tomorrow Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2.

For our employees working at job sites in Florida, Georgia and throughout the Carolinas, please continue to communicate with your supervisor regarding the status of your job site, as the majority are open and fully operational. Please report to your job site unless otherwise instructed by your supervisor.

We are deeply grateful that Idalia did not produce catastrophic impacts to our employees’ personal property, nor to equipment and structures on our customers’ job sites. We want to thank all of our Operations team members and employees for being operationally ready and communicative throughout this week. You all have done a tremendous job, and we appreciate your efforts, especially while dealing with your own personal preparations and circumstances.

We are aware that a couple of employees residing in areas most impacted by Idalia have incurred some minor personal property damage. Please reach out to Jessica Milligan at jmilligan@bernhard.com regarding Bernhard’s Employee’s 1^st Fund, which provides financial assistance to employees facing hardships from disaster situations, specifically eligible employees who have experienced damage to personal property (primary residence or vehicle) due to a natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstance.

We look forward to brighter days ahead and wish you and your families the absolute best. Thank you again for everyone’s diligence and safety-first decisions!

We are closely monitoring the evolving impacts of Hurricane Idalia following the storm’s landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida earlier this morning. To all of our employees currently experiencing Idalia’s impacts or preparing as the storm advances, our thoughts are with you and your families. The safety and well-being of you and your loved ones comes first, so please continue to follow local advisories and guidance from local officials.

Here are important considerations to keep an eye on over the next several hours as Idalia moves inland:

• Continued storm surge flooding from the Big Bend region stretching down through Tampa and Fort Myers. This situation will not improve much until later this evening.

• A significant span of wind damage that will create power outages through southern/southeastern Georgia from Valdosta to Vidalia/Statesboro/Savannah.

• Increasing storm surge flooding along coastal parts of Georgia and South Carolina, which will likely peak this evening.

The National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory issued at 2:00 p.m. EST today, Aug. 30, outlines the following key messages:

Florida

• Idalia’s center has moved out of Florida, but the storm’s bands continue to impact the state. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for much of Florida’s west coast from the Big Bend area to south of Tampa Bay.

• A Storm Surge Warning remains in effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay, and significant impacts from storm surge and flooding will continue through this evening.

• A Tornado Warning is in effect for parts of Florida until 3 p.m. EST today.

Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina

• As of 2:00 p.m., the center of the storm is in southern Georgia about 10 miles north-northwest of Waycross and about 100 miles west-southwest of Savannah. Winds have dropped to 80 mph, keeping it at a Category 1 hurricane, with the potential to continue causing damage, especially to trees and power lines. Idalia is expected to continue moving along a northeastern track through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina today, Aug. 30 through tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 31.

• Idalia could maintain hurricane status while moving across southern Georgia, and near the coast of Georgia and potentially southern South Carolina late today. Idalia is forecast to be downgraded to a tropical storm while moving near the coasts of northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina tonight and through Thursday.

• A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Altamaha Sound, Georgia to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Sebastian Inlet north to Surf City, North Carolina. A Hurricane Watch is in place from the mouth of St. Mary’s River on the Florida-Georgia border north to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, and from Edisto Beach to the South Santee River, South Carolina.

• Damaging hurricane-force winds will occur in areas where the core of Idalia moves across southern Georgia and southern South Carolina. Residents should prepare for power outages, which are increasing in Georgia with more than 20,000 outages reported earlier this morning. A Tornado Watch is in effect for parts of Georgia until 3:00 p.m. EST today.

• Dangerous storm surge will continue to be a threat along the southeastern coast tonight and into tomorrow. Areas of flash flooding are expected in portions of central Georgia, South Carolina and upward through eastern North Carolina into tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 31.

Our Tampa Bay office is closed today, Wednesday, Aug. 30. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will begin evaluating safety conditions in the area to determine whether to extend this office closure. Keep safety first, continue to work remotely from a safe location and do not return to the office until we communicate re-opening plans.

The Orlando office remains open at this time. However, we encourage you to continue using personal discretion and work remotely if needed. Your safety comes first.

For job sites currently closed or in the storm’s projected path, please continue to communicate with your supervisor to determine operational status updates for your site. We will assess conditions across locations that are currently closed to determine if and when it is safe to resume onsite operations. We will ask essential personnel to evaluate projects and facilities before resuming regular onsite operations. Stay in close contact with your supervisor and communicate whether you need to stay home for safety reasons.

We will continue to communicate via email, text and through updates on our Disaster Information Site accessible at this link: http://dr.bernhard.com.

Contact your supervisor if you have any concerns or questions regarding schedules.

Stay safe!

As of 5:00 p.m. EST today, Aug. 29, Idalia is a Category 2 hurricane and is expected to intensify as it moves towards Florida’s Gulf Coast tonight. According to the National Hurricane Center, Idalia is projected to make landfall along the Big Bend area of Florida’s west coast as a major Category 3 hurricane overnight into early Wednesday, Aug. 30. All predictions indicate Hurricane Idalia will be an extremely dangerous storm, with tropical storm force winds extending up to 150 miles from the center of the storm.

The National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory issued at 5:00 p.m. EST today, Aug. 29, outlines the following key messages:

Florida

• Hundreds of miles of the Florida Gulf Coast from Gulf County to the south end of Sarasota County are under a Hurricane Warning. The storm’s outer bands are expected to arrive in the Tampa Bay area this afternoon but will become more frequent and intense by midnight. The worst weather conditions are predicted to occur between tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

• The most significant threat posed by Idalia is storm surge, with some areas north of Tampa Bay expected to see 8 to 12 feet of storm surge, with 4 to 9 feet in the Tampa Bay area and 3 to 7 feet south of Tampa Bay. These conditions are predicted to occur Wednesday morning.

• Heavy rainfall from 4 to 8 inches, with isolated amounts up to 12 inches where Idalia makes landfall, is forecast into tomorrow. Areas of flash flooding along portions of the state’s west coast and Panhandle, some of which could be locally significant, are expected.

• Damaging winds are expected, and residents located in areas under the Hurricane Warning should be prepared for power outages, downed trees and power lines, and other hazardous conditions. The threat of tornadoes forming to the east of the storm’s core as it moves across the state is highest tonight.

Georgia, Carolinas and Virginia

• Hurricane Idalia is expected to bring heavy rainfall and damaging hurricane-force winds throughout areas in eastern Georgia and southeastern South Carolina where Tropical Storm Warnings and Hurricane Watches are currently in effect.
  
  
• Tropical storm force winds are expected in areas around Charleston, South Carolina by late Wednesday. Areas along the coast may see storm surge flooding, as well as potential flash flooding and tornadoes.
  
  
• Up to 8 inches of rainfall and wind gusts of more than 40 mph are likely through eastern Georgia, the Carolinas and possibly Virginia later this week.
  
  
• Areas along the North Carolina coast are under a Tropical Storm Watch and could start to feel tropical storm force winds late Wednesday, with peak impacts likely occurring between late Wednesday to Thursday, Aug. 31. Cities such as Charlotte and Raleigh are likely to see a few inches of rain as Idalia moves along the Carolina coasts before gradually curving northeastward over the Atlantic Ocean.

Our Tampa Bay office remains closed through tomorrow Wednesday, August 30, at a minimum. Your safety is our top priority, and we encourage all office-based employees to work remotely from a safe location and not to return to the office until we communicate that it is safe to do so.

The Orlando office will remain open; however, we encourage employees based in this office to put safety first, use personal discretion and work remotely if needed.

If you work at a job site in the storm’s projected path, please continue to communicate with your supervisor to determine the operational status of your job site. For job site closures, we will assess conditions across impacted locations to determine if and when it is safe to resume onsite operations. We will ask essential personnel to evaluate projects and facilities before resuming regular onsite operations. Please continue to remain in close contact with your supervisor and communicate whether you need to stay home for safety reasons. As a reminder, be mindful of Bernhard’s fleet and ensure trucks are parked in a safe, secure area.

We will continue to communicate via email, text and through updates on our Disaster Information Site accessible at this link: http://dr.bernhard.com.

Contact your supervisor if you have any concerns or questions regarding schedules, and please continue to follow local advisories and guidance from local officials.

Stay safe!