Hurricanes have always been powerful forces of destruction. Capable of shattering windows and tearing the roofs from buildings, these storms are becoming both more frequent and more severe due to the impact of climate change. As temperatures warm, hurricanes can carry more water vapor. That means more intense rainfall and coastal flooding. Four of the ten costliest hurricanes occurred between 2017 and 2018, and it really seems like things are only going to escalate from here.
Fortunately, hurricane protection technologies have continually evolved alongside these dangerous storms. Modern building codes account for the kind of damage that a severe storm can do, so new builds in hurricane-prone areas are created to withstand high-speed winds. What about all the buildings that already exist?
Fortunately, you don't have to bulldoze your home and spring for a new build if you live in hurricane country. There are several ways you can effectively retrofit your existing home with the gear you need to maintain your building's structural integrity.
Bracing gable-end roofs helps reinforce them against hurricanes. Adding extra boards can give these vulnerable structures a greater ability to resist high wind speeds. There are also roof tie-down clips, which attach the roof's deck to the home's framing. This results in a continuous load path from the roof to the foundation. That means that the maximum stress will be encountered by the portion of the structure that is best able to bear it, rather than vulnerable roof components.
Under the right conditions, a hurricane can tear the roof right off a house as easily as peeling an orange. This isn't the only thing that building owners need to worry about, though—with all the rain that a hurricane dumps down, flooding and water infiltration is just as much of a problem.
One way to avoid this is a high-tech sealing tape that's used to cover seams in plywood. This reduces the roof's permeability by effectively eliminating all the little gaps and cracks that rain can seep into.
Hurricane technology can't afford to rest on its laurels. As storms increase in severity, researchers are working to develop better ways to simulate storms so they can create better technology for mitigating damage. Massive fans can replicate high-speed winds, so scientists can directly observe how well certain materials and construction methods hold up.
There are also improvements in retrofitting technology to make it faster, easier, and less intrusive to install. Some devices for reinforcing roofs no longer require removing the plywood first, so roofers can install them quickly and inexpensively.
Windows are another area experiencing major leaps in technology. One particularly interesting development involves panels of glass in a rigid frame, with a synthetic shade that fits in the middle. The building owner deploys the shade, the shade locks into place, and the building's interior is protected from water and debris. Even if the exterior glass breaks, the shade itself is strong enough to keep rain, glass shards, and branches out.
For homes where these windows aren't an option, there are also polyvinyl chloride (PVC) window shutters. These are permanent fixtures that stay rolled up out of the way when they aren't in use. Right before a storm hits, building owners can deploy the shades to protect their windows and keep rain from seeping in.
Some products that protect windows and doors require professional installation. This isn't always feasible or affordable for building owners, which means they may forego them in favor of cheap, less effective DIY solutions. In response, manufacturers are making some opening protection products available to building owners in kit form. These are easy to install, less expensive than a professional installation, and still very effective at keeping windows and doors safe and dry.
If you live in an area that experiences “hurricane season,” you know how important it is to prepare. These hurricane protection technologies can help ensure that you, your family, and your home stay safe, even during increasingly intense storms. For best results, homeowners should see if their local government has a program available that provides wind inspections. A thorough inspection can reveal exactly where a building's weak points are and provide suggestions for ways to compensate.
