Podcast Short: Hurricane-Resistant Housing
In this excerpt, the team discusses the strategies for building homes in coastal hurricane zones to withstand high winds and storm surges.
In this clip from Podcast Episode 142, the Fine Homebuilding crew responds to this question from podcast listener Father Chris of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Port St. Joseph, Fl.
“We just went through Hurricane Michael, which caused serious damage to many homes and other structures. Some of this was due to storm surge and fallen trees, as was the case in Port St. Joe. Some buildings were damaged due to intense winds and storm surge, as was the case in Mexico Beach. One of my churches, Our lady of Guadalupe in Mexico Beach, had the roof completely cave in and had a wall fall down. Interestingly, at least one building in the area survived apparently unscathed. There’s a New York Times story, Among the Ruins of Mexico Beach Stands One House, Built ‘for the Big One’. I know you all are most familiar with building codes for the Northeast, but I would love to hear you all discuss what goes into making a building hurricane-resistant and why they work.”
Watch now to hear what FHB editors Patrick McCombe, Rob Wotzak, and Matt Millham have to say, including:
- The importance of materials like concrete, rebar, and impact-resistant windows
- The shape of the house as a contributing factor
- Cost vs. risk and building cost vs. appraisal value
—Photos courtesy of Father Chris
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