Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

February 2004 Volume 6 - Number 1

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Hurricane Update...

Update on Current Hurricane Mitigation Technologies

by Marc Bergman (EMSE 292)

After Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida in August 1992, which caused upwards of $525 billion in damages, efforts were enhanced to better mitigate the effects of such powerful storms. Technologies developed and strengthened in recent years include the use of safe rooms (pre and post house construction), impact resistant window shutters, shock resistant glass, more accurate forecasting, and the updating of building codes to improve the impact readiness of buildings. Such codes are especially stringent in Dade and Broward counties in South Florida, but also exist throughout coastal regions along the US east coast. A summary of these efforts follows:

Safe Rooms: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designed a safe room that is installed in new homes. The safe room (as stipulated in FEMA 320) can double as a closet, bathroom or utility room and can cost between $2,500 ~ $6,000 depending on the type of foundation and the location and size of the shelter (www.fema.gov/mit/saferoom). Alternatively, Dr. Nur Yazdani of the Florida A&M – Florida State University (FSU), commissioned by the Florida Department of Community Affairs, has developed a guide for building a “retrofit room” in existing houses that is designed to resist wind speeds of up to 140mph (category 4 hurricane), but for approximately $3,000, a more affordable option (http://floridadisaster.org, FSU and www.sciencedaily.com). The use of saferooms would also alleviate the strain on State Emergency Evacuation Plans. While anyone in the direct path of a hurricane or in a flood zone would be evacuated, saferooms would allow many others to remain in their homes.

Window Shutters/Laminated Glass: Storm Smart Building Systems (www.stormsmart.com/products) have developed Storm Catcher screens compliant with Florida building codes made of heavy duty geo-synthetic polypropylene mesh that is useful for covering large areas such as store fronts and tall windows. Installation of impact windows and doors manufactured by PGT WinGuard provide hurricane resistance as well as security. Numerous variations of shutters and storm panels exist that can withstand wind loads of up to 200mph.

Forecasting: The Hurricane Research Division (HRD) of the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (www.aoml.noaa.gov) is engaged on several research fronts into hurricanes including theoretical studies, computer modeling and examination of measurements taken in actual hurricanes. Historically, errors in track forecasting have improved approximately 1% a year, which is a result of better numerical forecast modeling. Additional flight missions into hurricanes such as HRD’s WP-3D and NOAA’s Gulfstream IV SP that measure winds that control storm motion can reduce errors by 16~30%. As well as enabling a reduction in damage and lost lives, if warnings can be reduced by 25%, savings in “overwarning” costs could total $100 million per year.

Building Codes: (IBHS www.disastersafety.org, various). After Hurricane Andrew, which caused an estimated $27 billion in insurance claims, South Florida Building Codes (SFBC) were made significantly more stringent. Requirements were added for impact resistant glass and shutters, as well as other structural enhancements for roofing and doors.