b'W inter storms present one of the largest causes of insurance losses in the United States today, with winter storm Elliott in 2022 being among the costliest recorded at over $6 billion in damages . Major school district disruptions have been experienced throughout the eastern and southern U .S . in past years, and in Missouri the cost of paying out claims has more than doubled since 2017, according to the Missouri school insurance professionals . The freeze-thaw event in the 2022-23 school year caused pipes around the state to burst during winter breakespecially in rural areas .Polar Vortexes always exist but sinceEnvelope & Openingsthe winter of 2020-21, the U.S. has seenCheck perimeters personally for four notable polar-vortex-linked coldgaps at doors, louvers, dock doors; outbreaks that impacted schools andchecking weatherstripping & auto-their infrastructure: Uri in February,operators for full closure, and verify 2021, Elliott in December, 2022, awindows are closed in unused rooms. cold outbreak in Mid-January, 2024,Note: weve seen frozen, burst pipes and the cold wave of January, 2025.in a school lab only because someone These stratospheric circulations becomeopened a window for ventilation problems when they get displaced, andduring the day and left it open that cold air spills further south than normal. cold night.With these events apparently becomingInsulate any penetrations in more frequent, what can school plantmechanical/electrical rooms and managers do to protect their facilities?confirm that vestibule heatersWhile most facilities professionalswill run.already have good pre-winter systems in place, here is a pre-season checklist that may help close any gaps: continued next pageWWW.MSPMA.COM|21'