Hurricane-Proof House

Reported April 2007

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- The Great Labor Day Storm of 1935: 423 people dead in Florida. Hurricane Camille devastates the Mississippi coast in 1969 Wind speeds top 200 mph. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 ... New Orleans is left under water.

When hurricanes hit, homes are torn apart. Now thanks to science and engineering, a new "hurricane house" may be able to stand up to some of the strongest storms. And according to Robert C. Stroh, Ph.D., the house is hurricane-proof up to about 130 mph.

Polystyrene blocks used to build the walls in the home have survived a direct hit from a tornado.

"This white stuff here is the polystyrene, just like a coffee cup is made out of, but inside it is concrete with steel reinforcing, Dr. Stroh, of University of Florida, tells Ivanhoe. "And this is a very strong building system."

During a hurricane, the roof is usually the first to go. But on the hurricane house, special brackets are used for reinforcement. Spray adhesive keeps the driving rain from getting in, and the shingles are made of fiberglass.

Protect windows from breaking from debris with shutters made from steel, aluminum and polycarbonate. Armor screen, a new material that feels a lot like a trampoline, can also stop debris. And it's impact-resistant. A metal brace helps keep your garage door intact.

"Things will hit this and they'll bounce off," Dr. Stroh says. And if you live inland, simple plywood may be enough to protect the glass.

Even though the hurricane house can survive a Category 4 hurricane with little damage, it's up to homeowners to protect their family.

"It's time that the public becomes aware of what options they have," Dr. Stroh says. "If you know there's a hurricane coming I think it's, it's time to get busy and protect yourself."

The American Society of Civil Engineers contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Robert C. Stroh, Ph.D.
Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
(352) 273-1192
stroh@ufl.edu

The American Society of Civil Engineers
Reston, VA 20191-4400
Joan Buhrman
(703) 295-6404
http://www.asce.org
jbuhrman@asce.org

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