Rebuild Safer And Stronger Structures
Release Date: March 19, 2007
Release Number: 1687-027
» More Information on Alabama Severe Storms and Tornadoes
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Winds of destruction will inevitably blow. But structures can be built, rebuilt or even retrofitted to withstand more of these dangerous winds, according to mitigation experts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“The task of rebuilding or repairing your disaster damaged home can be daunting, but it also presents an opportunity to reconstruct safer, stronger and smarter,” said H. Britt Bochiardy, FEMA Hazard Mitigation CEO Group Supervisor.
Property owners and construction professionals can improve their knowledge of stronger building practices at several temporary “self-service” home repair information centers FEMA has established. Agency mitigation advisors will be on hand to explain and discuss safe building techniques at both Lowe’s locations listed below, seven days a week from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Publications about reducing damage and loss from high winds will be available at all locations.
Location |
City |
Address |
|---|---|---|
Lowe’s |
Montgomery |
1950 Eastern Blvd. |
Lowe’s |
Enterprise |
1301 Boll Weevil Circle |
Builder’s Cash & Carry |
Enterprise |
708 Boll Weevil Circle |
Townsend Builders Supply |
Enterprise |
533 Boll Weevil Circle |
Home Depot |
Montgomery |
2312 Eastern Blvd. |
Turf & Timber |
Enterprise |
1684 Hwy. 84 East |
Builders Cash and Carry |
Dalesville |
895 S. Dalesville Ave. |
Fuller Building Supply |
Selma |
3101 Jeff Davis |
Ozark Community College |
Enterprise |
600 Plaza Dr . |
Eastdale Mall |
Montgomery |
Atlanta Hwy. & Eastern Blvd. |
Advice on Rebuilding
“FEMA really began studying how to make buildings more wind-resistant after Hurricane Andrew in 1992,” said Bailey Williams of FEMA’s Mitigation Hazard Prevention Analysis section. Many homes had foundations, wall systems and roof systems that were barely connected to each other. “The wind pulled the nails right out,” he said. “The roofs just lifted off — and then the house is ruined.”
The roof is the part of the house that is most vulnerable to damage from high winds. “Make the right decision about the roof,” Williams said. “It should be a hip roof as opposed to a gable roof.” With a
gable roof, the wind hits harder on the corners. “The wind slides over a hip roof,” Williams said. “It’s like a dome. There is nothing for wind to get its teeth into.”
“Also, the less overhang for the roof, the better,” he said.
Whether with new construction or retrofitting an existing roof, build to be sure the connections between the roof and walls are strong enough to resist the “uplift” effect of high winds.
In such winds, the windows and doors often blow out first. “Once the windows and doors are gone, the wind puts pressure on the roof from below and the wind also pulls on the top, so there is double pressure on the roof,” Williams said. “When the roof lifts off it may collapse back down on the house.”
What about the advice to “equalize the pressure” by opening windows and doors when there is a tornado? “That’s wrong,” Williams said. “Don’t open the doors and windows. It only gives the wind additional entry into the house.”
Shutters or plywood covers can protect windows from breaking. “There are electric shutters that operate by just pushing a button, without a huge amount of expense,” Williams said.
Wooden doors are simply not designed to withstand much of a wind load. Heavier metal doors with several bolts are much more wind resistant.
Garage doors are another vulnerable area. With a weak garage door, a severe wind blows in the door. Wind pressure then lifts the garage roof which is hinged to the house. The garage roof pulls off part of the house, which lets the wind into the attic, which puts pressure on the house roof, which may then lift off.
Therefore, retrofitting older garage doors helps increase a home’s storm resistance. “New garage doors are stronger and reinforced,” Williams said.
Building with 2-by-6 wall studs rather than the more common 2-by-4 timber is another way to make a structure more wind resistant.
Getting down to the foundation, many homes are built on concrete pads to which they are only slightly connected. Severe winds pull the walls right out of the foundation. To resist high winds, structures must be firmly connected to foundations. Bolts set deep into concrete foundations and topped with a washer and nut should be used to screw the structure to the foundation.
For personal safety, a safe-room provides protection. “You can build it as a separate building or strengthen another room, such as a garage or bathroom,” Williams said. “It’s very economical to do a safe room while you are building or rebuilding.” Information on building safe-rooms will be available at the locations listed above.
“Always contact a local building official before undertaking rebuilding, renovating or retrofitting to be sure your plans meet local and state government requirements,” Williams said.
“Building codes typically do not require construction practices such as those described here, but a ‘code plus’ approach is well worth the effort.”
More information is available at fema.gov/plan/prevent/howto/index.shtm#5.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 20-Mar-2007 10:10:15