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One-Stop Hurricane Resource Guide

Reference

Report providing quick reference guide information to help a family prepare for hurricane season, including seven steps to a wind resistant home, a wind inspection checklist, and how to find a contractor.

Flood and Hurricane Resistant Buildings, BSD-111

Reference

Guide from Building Science Corporation on how to construct a flood and hurricane resistant home.

FEMA Avoiding Hurricane Damage: Action Items for Homeowners

Reference

Fact sheet describing how to prepare for hurricane season and mitigate damage from floods and high winds.

Right - The porch and deck of this coastal home survived a hurricane.

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Wrong - The decks of this home suffered considerable hurricane damage.

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The electrical lines and box on this house were dislocated by hurricane forces.

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Load path connections to resist hurricane winds in a coastal building.

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Tornado, Hurricane, and Earthquake Risk Profile of 379 U.S. Urban Areas

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Fiber cement siding was pulled off in 125-mph hurricane winds.

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Minimizing Flood Damage to Electrical Service Components - Hurricane Isaac Recovery Advisory

Reference

Factsheet describing smart practices for minimizing damage to residential electrical service components during coastal and riverine flood events.

Newer home damaged from internal pressurization and inadequate connections, Hurricane Katrina.

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The piles of this foundation were well embedded and survived floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina.

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Failure of the wall to roof connection resulted in loss of roof under hurricane force winds.

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The right window frame was pulled out of the wall because of inadequate window frame attachment during a hurricane.

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Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes - Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Fourth Edition, FEMA P-361

Reference

Report covering the planning, design, construction, and operation of residential and community safe rooms. Written for architects, engineers, building officials, local officials and emergency managers, and prospective safe room owners and operators.

The vinyl siding, foam sheathing, and some interior gypsum board was blown off in 130 mph Hurricane winds.

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Shingle blow-off often starts at the eaves, as shown here after exposure to 115-mph hurricane winds.

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Hurricanes and resulting floods are among the most costly natural disasters impacting metropolitan areas (Source: U.S. Coast Guard)

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This gasoline tank collapsed due to pressure from flood waters during Hurricane Katrina, 2005, Biloxi, MS.

A gable end failure due to improper bracing caused collapse of most of the trusses on this roof under hurricane force wind conditions.

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The 3/8-inch gap under the door allowed wind-driven rain to enter the house in hurricane winds of 140 to 160 mph.

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Continuous load path failure due to improper connections between the roof decking and roof framing resulting from hurricane force winds.

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This home was hit by wind-borne debris including asphalt shingles blown off neighboring homes, in 140 to 150 mph hurricane winds.

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Continuous load path failure due to improper connections between a home and its foundation allowed this building to be overturned in hurricane force winds.

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This windows in this very old building in the Virgin Islands are protected from hurricanes with robust shutters constructed of 2x4 lumber, bolted connections, and heavy metal hinges.

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The brick house foundation piers on discrete footings (in the foreground) failed by rotating and overturning while the piers set in the concrete mat survived Hurricane Katrina.

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The slats on this roll-up detached from the tracks in 110 mph hurricane winds; the shutter lacked a label indicating whether it had been impact and pressure tested to any recognized standard.

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This home constructed in a V Zone in Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, had the bottom beam of the lowest floor at the BFE (dashed line) but the estimated wave crest during Hurricane Ike was 3 to 4 feet higher (solid line).

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One-Stop Hurricane Resource Guide

Flood and Hurricane Resistant Buildings, BSD-111

FEMA Avoiding Hurricane Damage: Action Items for Homeowners

Right - The porch and deck of this coastal home survived a hurricane.

Wrong - The decks of this home suffered considerable hurricane damage.

The electrical lines and box on this house were dislocated by hurricane forces.

Load path connections to resist hurricane winds in a coastal building.

Tornado, Hurricane, and Earthquake Risk Profile of 379 U.S. Urban Areas

Fiber cement siding was pulled off in 125-mph hurricane winds.

Minimizing Flood Damage to Electrical Service Components - Hurricane Isaac Recovery Advisory

Newer home damaged from internal pressurization and inadequate connections, Hurricane Katrina.

The piles of this foundation were well embedded and survived floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina.

Failure of the wall to roof connection resulted in loss of roof under hurricane force winds.

The right window frame was pulled out of the wall because of inadequate window frame attachment during a hurricane.

Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes - Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Fourth Edition, FEMA P-361

The vinyl siding, foam sheathing, and some interior gypsum board was blown off in 130 mph Hurricane winds.

Shingle blow-off often starts at the eaves, as shown here after exposure to 115-mph hurricane winds.

Hurricanes and resulting floods are among the most costly natural disasters impacting metropolitan areas (Source: U.S. Coast Guard)

This gasoline tank collapsed due to pressure from flood waters during Hurricane Katrina, 2005, Biloxi, MS.

When the soffits blew away in 140 to 160 mph hurricane winds, wind-driven rain was allowed to enter the attic.

Failure at a gable end of a home under hurricane force wind conditions due to improper continuous load path design.

A gable end failure due to improper bracing caused collapse of most of the trusses on this roof under hurricane force wind conditions.

The 3/8-inch gap under the door allowed wind-driven rain to enter the house in hurricane winds of 140 to 160 mph.

Continuous load path failure due to improper connections between the roof decking and roof framing resulting from hurricane force winds.

This home was hit by wind-borne debris including asphalt shingles blown off neighboring homes, in 140 to 150 mph hurricane winds.

Continuous load path failure due to improper connections between a home and its foundation allowed this building to be overturned in hurricane force winds.

This windows in this very old building in the Virgin Islands are protected from hurricanes with robust shutters constructed of 2x4 lumber, bolted connections, and heavy metal hinges.

The brick house foundation piers on discrete footings (in the foreground) failed by rotating and overturning while the piers set in the concrete mat survived Hurricane Katrina.

The slats on this roll-up detached from the tracks in 110 mph hurricane winds; the shutter lacked a label indicating whether it had been impact and pressure tested to any recognized standard.

This home constructed in a V Zone in Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, had the bottom beam of the lowest floor at the BFE (dashed line) but the estimated wave crest during Hurricane Ike was 3 to 4 feet higher (solid line).