Building wind damage assessment & damage repair or restoration procedures.

This article series provides residential & light construction building wind damage assessment procedures for buildings following disasters such as from a hurricane, cyclone, tornado, or other wind damage.

We discuss safe building entry procedures, setting the priority for repairs, and we give more detailed building inspection advice for building structures such as foundations & framing, and inspection and restoration of building mechanical systems.

Windstorm or Tornado Damage Prevention Advice for Homeowners

Very basic advice and some simple steps can substantially reduce wind damage to a building includes recommendations to trim back, cable-tie, or remove trees close to the building and have an arborist (tree specialist) inspect the health of large trees near the building.

Because nearby trees that are not on your property can still be tall enough to smash into your home, if appropriate ask neighbors to trim back large trees that threaten your building.

We have had success in this step by offering to share the cost of tree trimming with affected neighbors: just point out that depending on wind direction the tree may fall on their home as well.

Our photo (left) shows significant damage to a home struck by a wind-blown tree.

Below we have adapted and expanded on tornado & windstorm safety advice offered by USAA [31],FLASH®, and other sources.

Tornado & Windstorm Safety Steps to Take Before the Storm: Protection from Wind Damage

Build or find a safe place to wait out a tornado.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH®) recommends having a safe room or storm shelter professionally built [32] but in our estimate most homes do not have a specially-constructed storm shelter.

But you may be able to reinforce a basement area or a closet or storage room to serve that purpose.

Our photo (left) illustrates wind-damaged siding in Maple Shade, New Jersey.

Cell phone safety:

a cell phone can be a lifeline in an emergency and can also be used to get a head start on filing an insurance claim after a tornado or other disaster.

Contacting your insurance company quickly may be especially important following a tornado, hurricane, flood or other disaster that affects a wide area and many homes.

Make sure that your cell phone is fully charged.

Keep a car-adapter charger on-hand for additional cell phone charging; small battery pack cell phone chargers are also helpful in the short run but generally won't give multiple re-charges.

Evacuate? 

If you have to evacuate your home in an emergency, always put personal safety of everyone absolutely first. If time and safety permit we recommend turning off all utilities: electricity (all breakers), fuel supply lines, water supply lines. But if conditions are too dangerous to delay, don't hesitate.

Insurance coverage 

may not include some types of wind damage. Check with your insurance company before a storm occurs. USAA points out that trying to increase wind or tornado damage insurance coverage after a tornado has occured won't work.

After a tornado ... most insurance companies ... stop issuing new policies or won't allow coverage increases — or both. Contact your insurance carrier now to make sure you have what you need to recover, including wind and flood insurance coverage should your home be damaged by a storm. [31]

Plan for the emergency:

discuss with other residents or family members in your home questions such as where you will go in an emergency, how you will get out of risky areas (such as upper floors in a home).

Reduce wind-vulnerable hazards around the home.

This includes removing or securing loose items outdoors (funiture, garden tools, for example) as well as securing or removing loose items on the home (shutters, antennas, storm doors) and inspecting and if appropraite trimming trees around the home.

FLASH® provides a free wind damage inspection / prevention checklist.

While we don't want to allow someone to run amok with the chain saw, if there are large trees close enough to fall onto your home - as our photo at left illustrates in Hyde Park, NY.

Ask a tree expert to give you advice about the trees' health, need for trimming, and risk of fall or collapse in a windstorm, hurricane, or tornado. It may make sense to trim back, top or in some cases remove dangerous trees that threaten buildings.

Supplies: prepare your disaster kit to be sure you have on hand emegency supplies such as water, candles, matches, flashlights, first aid kits and the cellphone that we discussed above. Some homeowners prepare their emergency kit in a roll-along carry-on type travel bag to make quick movement easy.

Tornado & Windstorm Safety Steps to Take After the Storm

Don't re-enter a building that may be unsafe due to collapse hazards, fire hazards, electrical shock hazards, or LP or natural gas leaks.

BUILDING ENTRY for DAMAGE ASSESSMENT includes safety suggestions that pertain to wind, tornado, earthquake and other disasters as well. There we discuss how to enter a building safely and how to determine if it is safe to turn utilities back on.

Prevent Damage to Homes by Wind & Windstorms

• FEMA, SIDING INSTALLATION IN HIGH-WIND REGIONS [PDF] FEMA, USA, Website: www.fema.gov issued as part of Hurricane Ike revoerty advice, January 2009, retrieved 2018/12/25, original source: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1644-20490-2776/757_apd_8_sidinginstallation.pdf
• HAIL DAMAGED SHINGLES - inspection, assessment, diagnosis of hail damage to roofs
• HURRICANE DAMAGED BUILDINGS - for some basic advice hurricane damage prevention advice from FEMA & other sources.
• HURRICANE, WIND, & STORM-RESISTANT WINDOWS - Hurricane, wind & storm resistant windows & doors, guide
• MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS - requirements for anchors and tie-downs for mobile homes, manufactured homes, doublewides.
  
  andMOBILE HOME WIND RATINGS
• WIND DAMAGE to ROOFS includes examples that can help diagnose wind damaged roofing and we discuss nailing and other specifications for fastening roofing to reduce the risk of wind damaged shingles or roofing tiles. We include roof shingle wind damage, cause, evaluation, prevention, standards
• WOOD SHAKE & SHINGLE ROOFING discusses wood shake and wood shingle roof installation, inspection, damage and leak assessment, repair procedures & standards.
• [7] FEMA, "Protection of Openings - Shutters and Glazing", www.fema.gov, retrieved 3/5/2013.
• [8] FEMA, "Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction", FEMA P-499 www.fema.gov, retrieved 3/5/2013,
• [6]FEMA - how to contact FEMA - the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Telephone: 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362), TDD: 1 (800) 462-7585, Fax: 1 (800) 827-8112 or http://www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_en.portal for online disaster relief application - Web search 05/31/2010
  Hurricane advice original source - http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/hu_during.shtm
• [7] FEMA, "Protection of Openings - Shutters and Glazing", www.fema.gov, retrieved 3/5/2013.
  
  Further quoting:
  
  ASCE/SEI 7-05 also discusses the protection ofglazed openings in Section 6.5.9.3. The sectionstates, “Glazing in buildings located in wind-bornedebris regions shall be protected with an impactprotectivesystem or be impact-resistant glazingaccording to the requirements specified in ASTME1886 and ASTM E1996 or other approved testmethods and performance criteria.
  
  The levels of impactresistance shall be a function of Missile Levelsand Wind Zones specified in ASTM E 1886 and ASTME 1996”. Exceptions to this are noted in Section6.5.9.3
• [8] FEMA, "Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction",FEMA P-499 www.fema.gov, retrieved 3/5/2013,
  Quoting:
  
  FEMA produced this series of 37 fact sheets to provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings. The fact sheets present information aimed at improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments.
  
  Photographs and drawings illustrate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulatory requirements, the proper siting of coastal buildings, and recommended design and construction practices for building components, including structural connections, the building envelope, and utilities.
  
  Sections 1609.1.2 and R301.2.1.2, of the 2009 editionsof the IBC and IRC, respectively, address theProtection of Openings.
  
  These sections state thatin wind-borne debris regions, glazing in buildingsshall be impact resistant or protected with an impact-resistant covering that meets the requirementsof an approved impact-resistant standard or theAmerican Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)standards ASTM E 1996 and ASTM E 1886.
  
  Woodstructural panels could be used as an alternative toprovide protection so long as they meet local buildingcode requirements.
  
  Panel attachment should bein accordance with Table 1609.1.2 (IBC) and TableR301.2.1.2 (IRC) and installed using corrosion-resistantattachment hardware and anchors permanentlyinstalled on the building. Under provisions of the IBC,wood structural panels are permitted for Group R-3and R-4 buildings with a mean roof height of 45 feet(13,716 mm) or less where wind speeds do not exceed140 mph (63 m/s).
  
  Under provisions of theIRC, wood structural panels are permitted for buildingswith a mean roof height of 33 feet (10,058 mm)or less where wind speeds do not exceed 130 mph2(58 m/s). Figure 1 shows a house utilizing woodstructural panels to provide opening protection.
• [9] American Society of Civil Engineers. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI 7-10. (http://www.asce.org)
• [10] The Engineered Wood Association (APA). Hurricane Shutter Designs Set 5 of 5. Hurricane shutter designs for woodframe and masonry buildings. (http://www. apawood.org)
• [11] International Code Council. International Building Code. 2009. (http://www.iccsafe.org)
• [12] International Code Council. International Residential Code. 2009. (http://www.iccsafe.org)
• [13] ASTM E1886, Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, Doors, and Storm Shutters Impacted by Missile(s) and Exposed to Cyclic Pressure Differentials
• [14] ASTM E1996, Standard Specification for Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, Doors and Impact Protective Systems Impacted by Windborne Debris in Hurricane
• [15] ASTM E2112, Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors and Skylights
• [16] ASTM E330, Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference. (http:// www.astm.org)
• [17] Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association: DASMA 108, Standard Method for Testing Sectional Garage Doors: Determination of Structural Performance Under Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
• [18] FEMA, Asphalt Shingle Roofing for High Wind Regions, Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Technical Guide No. 73, retrieved 3/5/13
• [31] USAA, " What Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover - Having a policy in place doesn't necessarily mean your home and belongings are protected against all losses", USAA 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288, https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/ advice-disaster-whatsnotcovered? offerName=prihome_advice-disaster-whatsnotcovered, retrieved 3/5/2013
• [32] Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH®), 1427 E. Piedmont Dr., Suite 2 | Tallahassee, FL 32308website: http://www.flash.org/, Tel: 877.221.SAFE, Email: info@flash.org, retrieved 3/5/2013; quoting: The non-profit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH provdes a "Homeowner's Insurace Guide to Natural Disasters"
• BUILDING ENTRY for DAMAGE ASSESSMENT - safety procedures for people considering entering a building following an earthquake or other disaster
• CHIMNEY COLLAPSE - in earthquake zones
• HOUSING, EMERGENCY & TEMPORARY - suggestions for finding emergency housing alternatives
• MOBILE HOME STRUCTURAL DEFECTS - particular hazards faced by mobile homes, trailers, doublewides in the event of earthquake, hurricanes, flooding
• SAFETY for BUILDING INSPECTORS - safety procedures for building inspectors
• TOILETS for DISASTER ZONE USE - suggestions for makeshift toilets that provide additional relief in a disaster zone
• UTILITIES, TURN ON after a DISASTER - step by step safety procedures for getting electricity and heating fuel working again after a disaster.
• Arakida, Masaru. "Measuring vulnerability: The ADRC perspective for the theoretical basis and principles of indicator development." Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards–towards disaster resilient societies, United Nations University Press, Tokyo (2006): 290-299.
• Comerio, Mary C. "Public policy for reducing earthquake risks: a US perspective." Building Research & Information 32, no. 5 (2004): 403-413.
• Kamat, Vineet R., and Sherif El-Tawil. "Evaluation of augmented reality for rapid assessment of earthquake-induced building damage." Journal of computing in civil engineering 21, no. 5 (2007): 303-310.
• Kovacs, Paul. Reducing the risk of earthquake damage in Canada: Lessons from Haiti and Chile. Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, 2010.
• Mills, Evan, Evan Mills, and Ivo Knoepfel. Energy-efficiency options for insurance loss prevention. Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1997.
• Noji, Eric K., and Keith T. Sivertson. "Injury prevention in natural disasters. A theoretical framework." Disasters 11, no. 4 (1987): 290-296.
• Peek-Asa, Coritme, Jess F. Kraus, Linda B. Bourque, Dushyanthi Vimalachandra, Jenny Yu, and Jackie Abrams. "Fatal and hospitalized injuries resulting from the 1994 Northridge earthquake." International Journal of Epidemiology 27, no. 3 (1998): 459-465.

• If a tornado is likely in your area, you should 
  • Listen to the radio or TV for information.
  • Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
  • Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
  • Turn off propane tanks.· Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
  • Moor your boat if time permits.
  • Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

  When to leave your home in the face of a coming tornado or severe windstorm

  • Leave your home if you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
  • Temporary structures are particularly vulnerable to storm damage and therefore are not safe places to stay if a hurricane is coming.
  • Because hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations above ground, a tall building such as a high-rise apartment or hotel can be dangerous in a hurricane. In an otherwise secure apartment near the top of a Chicago high rise we [DF] saw first hand how strong winds blowing off of the lake sent a torrent of water through the unit's lake-facing windows and doors.
    
    Damage from broken, flying glass was still worse.
  • Buildings or private homes found on a coast, in a floodplain, including homes that are located near a river, or an inland waterway are at risk of being severely flooded and can even trap occupants who first flee to upper floors without understanding that in some areas flood waters can exceed even the rooftop height.
  • Leave your home even if the conditions described above are not present but for any other reason you feel you are in danger. Examples might include risk of freezing from loss of heat, people who require special medical equipment that may fail during a storm, or if you live in an area where you feel unsafe due to violence.

  If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines

  • Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
  • Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.
  • Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds will pick up again.
  • Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
  • Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

Building Wind Damage, Tornados, Research & References

• [3]Performance of Glass/Cladding ofHigh-Rise Buildings in Hurricane Katrina" [PDF] Ahsan Kareem and Rachel Bashor, NatHaz Modeling Laboratory, University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN 46656, - web search 06/26/2010 original source: http://www.nd.edu/~nathaz/doc/Katrina_AAWE_9-21.pdf
• [4] "Hurricane Damage to Residential Structures: Risk and Mitigation", Jon K. Ayscue, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, published by the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, November 1996. Abstract:
  
  "Property damage and loss from hurricanes have increased with population growth in coastal areas, and climatic factors point to more frequent and intense hurricanes in the future. This paper describes potential hurricane hazards from wind and water.
  
  Damage to residential structures from three recent intense hurricanes - Hugo, Andrew, and Iniki - shows that wind is responsible for greater property loss than water.
  
  The current state-of-the-art building technology is sufficient to reduce damage from hurricanes when properly applied, and this paper discusses those building techniques that can mitigate hurricane damage and recommends measures for mitigating future hurricane damage to homes." - online at www.colorado.edu/hazards/publications/wp/wp94/wp94.html
• [5] Living in the Danger Zone: Realities about Hurricanes, Fran Marscher, IUniverse; illustrated edition edition (April 25, 2001), ISBN-10: 0595170420, ISBN-13: 978-0595170425
• American Red Cross - how to contact the Red Cross - for emergency relief: food, clothing, shelter. If you are in need of a shelter during a disaster, contact your local Red Cross chapter - enter your zip code on this web page. - web search 05/31/2010
• [9] American Society of Civil Engineers. Minimum DesignLoads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI7-10. (http://www.asce.org)
• [10] The Engineered Wood Association (APA). Hurricane Shutter Designs Set 5 of 5. Hurricane shutter designs for woodframe and masonry buildings. (http://www. apawood.org)
• [11] International Code Council. International Building Code. 2009. (http://www.iccsafe.org)
• [12] International Code Council. International Residential Code. 2009. (http://www.iccsafe.org)
• [17] Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association: DASMA 108, Standard Method for Testing Sectional Garage Doors: Determination of Structural Performance Under Uniform Static AirPressure Difference
• Allen, Myles. "2 Flooding, windstorms and climate change.", http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cd68/UK2008/cap2.pdf, retrieved 3/3/2013
• Ashley, Walker S., and Thomas L. Mote. "Derecho hazards in the United States." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 86.11 (2005): 1577-1592.
• Ayscue, Jon K. Hurricane damage to residential structures: risk and mitigation. Natural Hazard Research and Applications Information Center, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, 1996.
• Ellingwood, Bruce R., David V. Rosowsky, Yue Li, and Jun Hee Kim. "Fragility assessment of light-frame wood construction subjected to wind and earthquake hazards." Journal of Structural Engineering 130, no. 12 (2004): 1921-1930.
• Prevatt, D. O., G. M. Marcelle, I. Kelman, L. A. Dupigny-Giroux, and F. J. Masters. "On Reducing Hurricane Damage to Housing in the Caribbean Islands.", http://www.davidoprevatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/prevatt-et-al-on-reducing-hurricane-damage-to-housing-in-the-caribbean-islands-atc-2010.pdf, retrieved 03/03/2013
• Rosowsky, David, and Scott Schiff. "What Are Our Expectations, Objectives, and Performance Requirements for Wood Structures in High Wind Regions?." Natural Hazards Review 4.3 (2003): 144-148.
• Schmidlin, Thomas, Barbara Hammer, Paul King, Yuichi Ono, L. Scott Miller, and Gregory Thumann. "Unsafe at Any(Wind) Speed?." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 83, no. 12 (2002): 1821-1830.
• Storm, Jackson County Severe Winter. "Severe Winter Storm and Windstorm.", http://www.co.jackson.or.us/Files/Section%2006.pdf, retrieved 3/3/201
• Living in the Danger Zone: Realities about Hurricanes - book recommendation

...

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