New Hope for Withstanding Hurricanes

Who knew that a ring-shank nail on a roof affords 130% the holding power of a plain shiny nail? Recently, my wife Patt and I hosted a dinner at our home for academicians, scientists, wind engineers and insurance executives. Our purpose was to promote the development of a project known as “The Wall of Wind” being created under the auspices of the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC), located at Florida International University. Through the leadership of Stephen Leatherman, Ph.D., the IHRC is conducting important and ground-breaking research. This research will lead to better new construction methods and, more importantly, the discovery of retrofitting techniques and products that will increase the ability of buildings to withstand the ravages of hurricanes and other wind storms. Let me give you some examples of its test results: using a ring-shank nail instead of a plain shiny nail can improve the lifting restraint of a roof from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 4! The additional cost of ring shank nails is approximately $100 per roof. Obviously, all new construction in coastal areas should use the more effective nail.

Unfortunately, my own home was built before this information was available. Thus, I have the plain nail holding my roof in place. You can imagine that I am not terribly excited nor inclined to spend more than $40,000 to redo a perfectly good roof in order to trade up to the ring shank nails. No one is that crazy. However, the scientists at FIU have also discovered that if I apply with a caulking gun a ribbon of commercial-grade glue on either side of where the roof trusses come in contact with the roofing plywood, I will achieve the holding power of the ring-shank nail. The cost of glue: $100. The cost of hiring a skinny, wiry guy to climb into my attic (preferably not during a hot Miami summer): About $400 or $500. You better believe I am willing to spend that kind of money.

The genius of the Wall of Wind project is that it will develop precise empirical evidence by blowing hurricane-force winds and water from 73 mph to 160 mph at actual buildings. These buildings will be constructed according to the current building codes as well as prior codes in order to determine at what wind speeds various structural elements fail. A logical extension is to then test retrofitting products and techniques that will improve the performance of the same structural elements.

I envision the day that Patt and I can go to a Web site and by simply typing our ZIP code, the year our home was built and style (peaked roof with barrel tiles), we will learn, pursuant to the then-existing building code, at what wind speed our roof will blow away, the doors will buckle and the windows collapse inward. Following that scary computer screen should be one advising us of action steps we can take to fortify our home. Armed with these documents, we should be able to go to a trained, certified retrofit contractor who will do the work. I pay the contractor—partially, with a tax credit—and receive a Good Housekeeping certificate indicating that my home now meets the latest and most stringent code or its equivalent. Finally, my insurance company (hopefully I’ll have one) gives me an actuarially sound credit commiserate with the reduced exposure.

Our industry and our nation are divided in forming solutions for the property insurance and reinsurance crisis facing coastal America. Some believe that rate deregulation is a major component of the solution. Others believe that each state needs to formulate solutions that are locally appropriate. Still others, the Big “I” included, believe that while deregulation of rates and local solutions are important, there is a role for the federal government in providing catastrophic, actuarially sound reinsurance to the states and perhaps to the private sector. Where there is no disagreement, nor should there be, is that we need to reduce the risk of damage to properties by building better buildings and, more importantly, retrofitting existing ones. I am convinced that, long term, it is the best and most sound solution.

The Wall of Wind is a project that deserves our enthusiastic support and that of our company partners.

Alex Soto
President