Assessment of Damage to Single-Family Homes
Caused by Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki (1993, 148 p.)
Note: This technical document is most relevant
to housing researchers. Because of the file size, a fast internet
connection is recommended.
When Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida and Louisiana in
August 1992 and Hurricane Iniki struck the Hawaiian Island
of Kauai the following month, tens of thousands of homes in
their paths were damaged or destroyed by wind forces that
exceeded the design specifications established for residential
construction by local and national building codes. This document
identifies measures that designers, builders, local officials,
homeowners, and others can take to improve the wind-resistant
qualities of the single-family housing stock. The study also
found that water damage was the most common and costly factor
in the hurricane-damaged homes, and it identifies the three
critical components that failed most frequently: windows and
doors, roof coverings, attachment of roof sheathing. The findings
reveal deficiencies in residential design, construction, building
codes, and standards for building products and materials of
single- family homes, as well as in preparedness and implicit
public policies about levels of acceptable risk from storm
hazards. The report's recommendations for improving the wind-resistant
qualities of single-family homes balance the cost of a measure
against the increment of protection it affords. Other recommendations
include stronger and more flexible building code requirements,
information and training for homeowners on preparing for hurricanes,
and industry involvement in the investigation and development
of cost effective, wind-resistant construction methods and
materials.
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