Findings and Recommendations from the 2004 Hurricane Season 
12/15/05 

In just over six weeks in 2004, Florida was struck by the force of four back-to-back hurricanes. Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne were among the nine hurricanes and six tropical storms that formed during the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. But Florida was not the only state to be affected. By the season's end, President George W. Bush had issued 27 presidential disaster declarations as the powerful winds and tides of these storms damaged cities and towns in 15 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  In Florida, the hurricanes and tropical storms, directly or indirectly, led to the deaths of 117 people. Storms damaged or destroyed one in five Florida homes - many were hit as many as three times. Frances and Jeanne followed almost identical paths across the Peninsula and both storms crossed the path taken by Charley, a powerful Category Four hurricane. Charley was the first major wind event to hit the state since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Frances and Jeanne, while not as strong as Charley, also inflicted significant wind damage on the state. Ivan delivered not only strong winds but also significant flood damage even to structures built above the 100-year flood elevation.  At the close of hurricane season on November 30, insurance companies had responded to more than 2 million claims filed by homeowners and property damage was estimated at $42 billion. Could the devastation have been prevented? Overall, experts in government and the private sector agree in their findings that homes built and designed with the stronger building codes adopted in 2002, after Hurricane Andrew, performed well. But tens of thousands of older homes did not have the benefit of the stronger building codes. Still, much of the destruction could have been lessened or eliminated entirely had homeowners taken action to retrofit or strengthen their homes against high winds and wind-driven rain. 

Observations and Recommendations  FEMA sent a number of Mitigation Assessment Teams (MATs) across Florida after the storms to see how well buildings performed under the stresses caused by the hurricanes' wind and water impacts. 

Wind and Roof Damage the Major Cause of Concern  In community after community, the scenarios were the same. Structurally, homes built using building codes developed after Hurricane Andrew performed well. However, even in these homes, when wind entered the structure through a breached opening - such as a broken window or garage door -- internal pressure rapidly increased, causing roof and wall failures. According to FEMA's report, the majority of building damage was caused by insufficient resistant to wind and wind-driven rain and the impact of windborne debris on the building's openings.  Roof coverings blew away, allowing rain to enter the building causing damage, the loss of personal belongings and the growth of mold. In addition, soffits failed and allowed wind-driven rain to enter an otherwise undamaged home.  According to FEMA's observations, damage to roof coverings continues to be the leading cause of building performance problems during hurricanes. Of particular concern were roof tiles. Tiles located on ridges, hips and edges of the roof were frequently a point of failure, especially when they lacked mechanical anchors. Loose tiles or tile fragments were also frequently the source of wind-borne debris.

 How Can Future Damage be Averted?  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2005 hurricane season will yield another above-normal number of hurricanes. Its predictions call for 12 to 15 tropical storms stemming from the Atlantic, with between seven and nine reaching hurricane status. Three to five of those could become major hurricanes.  The NOAA forecast follows a trend of unusually active hurricane seasons that began in 1995. The average hurricane season from 1995-2004 produced 14 tropical storms, eight of which developed into hurricanes, four of them major. Eight of those ten years are classified as having "above normal" storm activity.  By contrast, the average season in the preceding 25 years, from 1970-1994, produced nine tropical storms and five hurricanes, including two classified as major. Only three of those 25 seasons were considered "above normal" in storm activity.  If these predictions are true, how can homes be strengthened to withstand 15 more years of increased hurricane activity? FEMA's recommendations follow the code-plus building techniques outlined in the Federal Alliance for Safe Home's Blueprint for Safety® educational program. Blueprint for Safety provides the latest accurate and reliable information about disaster-resistant building techniques and products. 

FEMA and FLASH Recommendations  Reinforce Your Home's Connections  Your home's ability to resist the extreme force of wind is only as strong as its weakest link, so the only sure way to create a wind-resistant home is to secure all its connections: roof-to-wall, floor-to-floor and wall-to-foundation.  To make sure the roof stays in place when severe winds come, securely anchor roof-to-wall connections by installing hurricane straps or clips at every wall-to-rafter connection to reinforce the roof.  Even if re-roofing your existing home is years away, it is possible for roofing professionals to access and reinforce an existing home's roof-to-wall connections with hurricane straps and clips.  These connections are critical in holding the roof together and will dramatically increase the home's overall resistance to wind.  Along with roof-to-wall connections -- all joints in the structure -- floor-to-floor and wall-to-foundation -- must also be secured to create a "continuous load path" to the building's foundation.  Secure floor-to-floor connections by making sure each floor is connected to the floor below with straps or clips in addition to any other code-required nailing schedule.  Wall-to-foundation connections should be made through the use of anchor bolts or mud-sill anchors.  Be sure to install all connectors following manufacturer's specifications.

Prevent Wind and Rain from Entering Your Home  To ensure that wind, wind-driven rain and windborne debris do not enter your home: 1. Install impact resistant windows and doors or impact resistant coverings (shutters). As a temporary, emergency measure, use 5/8 inch (or thicker) plywood to board up all windows and doors, including French doors and sliding glass doors, and skylights.  2. Replace your Garage Door with an impact resistant unit or Reinforce your existing door with an approved bracing and strengthening system.  3. Be sure that edge flashing, coping, and gutter/downspouts are correctly designed and installed. 4. Inspect your roof for old or damaged shingles. Old or damaged roof coverings will not be able to withstand high winds and debris impact. Following these recommendations will give your home a better chance to survive the powerful winds and rain of a hurricane.