EPCOT F&W - Hurricane IAN

[xipetotec]

Just curious, are they leaving the food booths up? Don't those stand to be completely wiped out if the hurricane hits Epcot bad enough? I can't imagine those temporary structures are built to withstand massive winds?

 

[CarolynFH]

Just curious, are they leaving the food booths up? Don't those stand to be completely wiped out if the hurricane hits Epcot bad enough? I can't imagine those temporary structures are built to withstand massive winds?

Given that those booths operate pretty much year round now, with all the festivals (they just change the signs in between), I suspect they’re constructed as permanent buildings. However, that’s one of the things we’ll have to wait to see.

 

[figmentfinesse]

Just curious, are they leaving the food booths up? Don't those stand to be completely wiped out if the hurricane hits Epcot bad enough? I can't imagine those temporary structures are built to withstand massive winds?

Was there last night. All booths that weren’t a real, inside structure closed. So things like the Refreshment Port and Outpost, Shimmering Sips, Brew-Wing, Tangerine Cafe stayed open. Everyone else was prepping the buildings for the storm. Wrapping stuff up in Saran Wrap, removing smaller pieces of the building etc

 

[ktlm]

Someone posted a video yesterday evening of the food booths all being closed down around 6:00 p.m. for preparations with all the registers being wrapped. Couldn't tell what all they were doing for the structure itself or the interior from the video. Fingers crossed they make it through. Ian should be down to a Category 1 by the time it reaches the area. That means roof damage, shingles coming off, gutters, siding etc, anything not tied down moving or flying but if a building is a permanent structure, it typically won't take the building down (there could be damage by flying debris, falling trees, etc). A lot of your storm damage from that type speed wind is from trees snapping or toppling and power lines posts toppling- and then them hitting other things (or things that are not tied down that move and damage other things). The wind can be strong enough to snap a tree, and also once the ground is extremely rain saturated from heavy rains and is softer, it is easier for the wind to topple larger trees or power line posts.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Was here for past storms.
They know how to handle them, preparing the buildings with tie downs, wraps, etc.
Been there, done that type of thing
There’s procedures in place, they follow them
And it works, baring a direct hit from a tornado or something like that, heaven forbid.

 

[xipetotec]

Cool! So they do keep them out, but "pin them down" so to speak. Interesting and fun to know.

thanks guys!

 

[TSR6]

They had a lot of the registered saran wrapped by 3pm on 9/27 - most of the booths stayed open later but they were taking the payments at the food pickup area.