Hybrid Preliminary Virtual Reconnaissance Report-Early Access Reconnaissance Report (PVRR-EARR)

This report will serve as StEER’s primary product documenting this unique response to Hurricane Laura, combining elements of StEER’s standard Preliminary Virtual Reconnaissance Report and Early Access Reconnaissance Report in to a single joint PVRR-EARR, that: (1) provides an overview of the Hurricane Laura, particularly relating to its wind field and storm surge impacts on the built environment, (2) documents the joint effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Laura on affected populations and emergency management, (3) overviews the regulatory environment and construction practices in the affected area, (4) outlines StEER’s event response and reconnaissance methodology, (5) summarizes the damage reports in public and social media, as well as observations recorded by StEER FASTs to document the performance of a wide range of buildings and other infrastructure, and (6) recommends topics worthy of continued study by the natural hazards engineering research community and affiliated fields. Note that all observations and findings provided in this report should be considered preliminary and are based on the limited scope of the FAST and particularly the constraints created by conducting the assessments from vehicles due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19.