Storm Resistance
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Rebuilding the Gulf Coast: Opportunites and
Responsibilities
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| In mid-August 2004, Hurricane Charley hit
the Gulf Coast of Florida. The Category 4 hurricane produced
winds up to 144 mph. This Port Charlotte residence was under
construction at the time, and even though it saw significant
wind as evidenced by the missing and damaged clay tile shingles,
it experienced no other damage. |
Storm surge and high winds are two of the more devastating actions
created by hurricanes, and Hurricane Katrina provided plenty of
both. With sustained winds and a slow trajectory, it whipped at
the coastal areas and sent walls of water inland.
If buildings were strong enough to withstand the surging waters,
structures were simply flooded. Unfortunately, many buildings were
completely washed away. Similarly, if high winds only damaged windows
and roofs, that was far better than having roofs ripped off and
walls topple down. But that’s what happened to many of the
lighter framed structures and unreinforced masonry structures.
The cement-based wall systems such as masonry, precast concrete,
and insulated concrete forms (ICFs) that contained proper reinforcement
took a lot of abuse, perhaps maintaining only the building’s
shell, but they remained standing. Many became inundated with flood
waters or saturated by heavy rains. Since masonry and concrete do
not provide a food source for mold, however, the excess moisture
didn’t necessitate destruction of the walls. Instead, buildings
made from those materials only required cleaning and drying out
before re-installing windows and interior walls and finishes.
These are several of the messages that need to be brought to building
officials, architects, builders, homeowners, and others regarding
the rebuilding efforts.
One mechanism for delivering that information is a seminar series
about the importance of choosing solid building materials. Seminars
started in Summer 2006 and continue into the fall. Masonry is one
of the featured materials of the seminars. A new brochure, Storm
Resistant Concrete Masonry Homes & Buildings, was created
by the National Concrete
Masonry Association as a handout for the seminars.
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