Rough weather ahead KEYS FOR OUTLASTING HURRICANE SEASON By Tommy Faulkner
D
uring this unusually active 2020 hurricane season, it is important for property owners and builders to prepare for the severe damage that often results from these storms. Whether protecting an existing building or investing in new construction, special precautions must be taken to improve public safety and reduce the damage and resulting high costs of repair after a storm.
While most coastal communities know the risks that come with hurricanes, many structures are not equipped to handle the intense storms, and new construction is not slowing down. Damage from these storms is also increasing—the annual cost of hurricane damage is estimated at $28 billion, and expected to increase to $39 billion per year by 2075. While hurricanes pose great challenges for coastal communities, there are strategies for mitigating risks for both new construction and existing structures. Through a combination of expertise in designing and building in hurricane-prone areas, and steps everyone
68
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — OCTOBER 2020
can take to protect structures from an impending storm, here are the best ways to help your structure outlast hurricane season.
Why some structures fare better
In response to storms over the years, building codes have continued to adapt to improve public safety and the ability of structures to withstand the high winds and other hazards of these powerful storms. The code leads engineers through the design process, governed by the forces that will put the greatest load on the structure—seismic activity or wind speed and pressure.
