PARTNERS BUILD MODELS TO
ENHANCE COMMUNITIES

Volusia County, FL -Imagine reading, writing, arithmetic, wood, dust, and hammers in the classroom. Picture a home model built to withstand 150 mph winds. Envision DeLand High School students building these model houses. Think of instructors teaching students how to build more secure homes. See communities learning how to rebuild stronger and safer because of the combined efforts of businesses and schools.

Administrators at area high schools eagerly volunteered their vocational students to build Mitigation House Models (formerly known as the Dawg Haus)- a stronger, safer, and complete house structure. The students are members of the DeLand High School chapter of Future Builders of America (FBA). The students earned credit points with monetary value towards college tuition, sponsored by the Volusia Home Builders Association. Their fourth Mitigation House Model is currently under construction.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) collaborated with central Florida building merchants, suppliers, and a vocational high school to donate materials and resources to build Mitigation House Models in the classrooms. Donors such as Grainger Industrial Supply, Home Depot, and Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc. had a common motivation for their contributions to the school. They all agreed that it is about helping the community stay safe and that they are glad to be a part of it.

The models were built with 2” by 6” lumbers in lieu of 2” by 4”, to withstand powerful wind uplift. They have metal hurricane ties that connect the roof, walls, and the foundation together, reinforcing the structure. The load is then transferred from the roof, to the wall, to the foundation. A house model structure was located at the Home Depot Store in Port Orange along with brochures and handouts for the public.

Sharon Kircher, a territory manager for Simpson-Strong-Tie Company, Inc., said that her company often works with FEMA. Kircher said that she attended an awards event where the Building Official and Inspector Association recognized students at DeLand High School for their work and gave them code books. The students were very happy.

“Our objective is to educate as many people as we can so that we are all on the same page, knowing that there are products out there to help,” Kircher said. “Even if a house has already been built, there are products people can use to retrofit their house.”

Building stronger and safer houses utilizing the Mitigation House Model will protect communities and will ensure a safer future for families in the wake of severe weather events.