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Surviving A Hurricane: A Hurricane-Resistant Construction Solution

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Video showing how differently constructed homes stand up to a hurricane and how it can be easy to retrofit a home to make it hurricane resistant using Simpson Strong Tie.

Hurricane Straps

Video

Video describing hurricane ties and how they make your home more ready for severe weather by strengthening structural connections.

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

Reference

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

Screws Instead of Hurricane Ties?

Video

Video showing the use of structural screw hurricane ties and connectors to improve the home’s resistance to hurricane force winds and earthquakes, from a house framer’s perspective.

FORTIFIED Animation: Hurricane & HWH - Gables

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Video showing how to install gables properly to ensure a secure roof frame per IBHS FORTIFIED Home standards.

Hurricane Retrofit Guide - Wood Frame Walls

Reference

Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.

FORTIFIED Animation: Hurricane - Continuous Load Path

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Video showing key connection joints for a properly installed continuous load path per IBHS FORTIFIED Home specifications.

Make your home more resilient for hurricane season

Reference

Web article describing many ways homeowners, contractors, and builders can make homes more resistant to hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, and hail.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

Reference

An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

This coastal home was built on a flood-resistant pier foundation using hurricane- and moisture-resistant expanded polystyrene and steel wall panels and hurricane strapping.

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Wood Frame Roof-to-Wall Connections in Hurricane Retrofit Guide

Reference

A hurricane retrofit guide describing techniques for strengthening roof-to-wall connections for family homes.

Right – Hurricane strapping attaches every roof truss to a wall stud.

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Wall Bracing for Hurricane, High Wind, and Seismic Resistance

Guide

Guide describing how to construct the walls of a home with bracing to resist high wind and earthquake loads.

Hurricanes, Earthquakes & Tornados - Design of Wood-frame Structures for Extreme Forces

Video

Video presentation describing wood framing design to withstand extreme forces from severe weather.

Example A of a gable truss and gable end wall bracing for a home in a hurricane region

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Example B of a gable truss and gable end wall bracing for a home in a hurricane region

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Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site-Built Single-Family Residential Structures

Reference

Code describing the requirements for existing site-built single-family homes to receive roof-to-wall retrofits when re-roofing.

Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew In Florida - Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA 22

Reference

Document containing recommendations on how to brace roofs and gable end walls based on lessons learned from analyzing the destruction from hurricane Andrew.

Hurricane-Prone Regions of the United States with ASCE 7-05 and 7-10 Boundaries

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Right - The wall framing is connected to roof framing with metal ties for hurricane-resistant construction.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 488

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FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Charley in Florida including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance for retrofitting hurricane-damaged homes.

End wall failure under hurricane force winds due to inadequate bracing of the gable end wall.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Ivan in Alabama and Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 489

Reference

FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Ivan in Florida and Alabama including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance.

Right - Engineered structural screws are installed to secure a stud to a top and bottom plate for increased hurricane or seismic resistance.

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Failure of a freestanding concrete masonry end wall due to discontinuous tie-beam when exposed to hurricane force winds.

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Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Michael in Florida: Building Performance Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA P-2077

Reference

FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Report describing damages from Hurricane Michael in Florida in Oct. 2018 and recommendations for future hurricane preparedness.