Hurricane-proof House

[jo4hn]

Keeping in mind that the sperm whale population in northwest Nebraska is negligible. j4

[jo4hn]

Nah. Robin's butt. Just ask Ms Hartl and Mr Lee. j4

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Some of the codes for building at the shores take some of this into consideration already. Most have to be raised about eight feet and no utilities below that.

I'd probably use ICF construction.

or While the outside may have superficial damage, the walls would not collapse. Shutters for the windows.

Plenty of supplies on hand, but I'd also have some sort of water filtration/purification system. Generator, of course, but I'm now sure that the best fuel would be. You'd want at least a two week fuel supply and something easily replenished if longer term is needed.

[Chris]

And what percentage of the British population actually own homes?

[Bob Johnson]

[...]

In New Orleans, where being below sea level and inland from the Gulf of Mexico provides a lot of protection, this would be overkill, because the big danger was and is flooding from broken or overtopped levees, not direct storm surge. A building that can withstand high winds isn't the real challenge: it's the massive force of MOVING water that is the killer. The biggest problem with flooding (other than surviving it) is the major mold and mildew problem that will persist for months or years afterward if the materials are at all water absorbent.

And on the coast, directly exposed to the full force of combined storm surge and waves, it wouldn't be nearly enough, unless it really were just a small storm shelter within a larger building, and even then there are never guarantees. Storm surge combined with large waves can shatter even a heavy concrete foundation if it is undercut, and the undercut is why the pilings are there. So you would need a lot more pilings than just the four corners, unless it were a small (e.g. one room) shelter.

The "hurricane proof house" near Pensacola is an effort to design just such a home, but it is far from "hurricane proof". "Hurricane resistant" is a much better description. See

for some discussion of how much repair the $800,000 "hurricane proof" house needed after being near the most destructive part of Ivan. The "before" images are at and some design info at

Keep in mind that the stairs and the concrete slab that were designed to break away become battering rams when they wash up against someone else's "hurricane proof" home.

- Bob

[Toller]

In the Keys it is assumed you can't evaculate, so they are built to withstand hurricanes. I don't know details, but they are all on piers with heavy storm shutters. Of course, they are above sealevel; not below it like NO. I suppose the piers would have to be 15' higher, which doesn't seem practical.

[Morris Dovey]

| How should this house be built and what should it have?

Solid but light. Wheels.

[and anti-troll protection]

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[Doug B Taylor]

BETTER answer.... Just build it in Canada...we have plenty of flood planes for the moronic and a well established reputation for helping our neighbours as opposed to using high powered fire arms to solve all our problems.

Regards,

Doug

[Matt Whiting]

I'd build it using reinforced concrete with metal shutters to close over the windows, it's own 30 day water supply and enough fuel to power a backup generator for that same amount of time, and I'd build it on columns at least 20' tall above the ground, or whatever the storm surge level from a cat 5 storm is expected to be in that area.

Matt

[Stephen King]

Don't build it in New Orleans.

[Mark & Juanita]

You had a shot up until the "unwanted government interference". There is nothing that can be built to stand up or resist that.

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

[Dr. Hardcrab]

But which one do you shoot?

One had roast beef and the other had nun........

[Matt Whiting]

It is absolutely possible, but I'm not sure it is economically feasible. I guess if you REALLY want to live in a below sea level area, it might be worth it to you.

Matt

[Matt Whiting]

Possibly, hence the use of reinforced concrete and the steel shutters.

Matt

[CWatters]

Underground?

[Robatoy]

I'd drill the little fucker that went "WEE WEE WEE" all the way home...

[Mark & Juanita]

Easy, he counted the rings. ;-)

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

[Jim-Poncin]

Yes, and if subjected to heavy wave action it would probably fail. Cat 3 Katrina tore up a lot of heavy duty structures. But even before those considerations it would cost way too much and would not pass residential codes because it would be an eyesore. A realistic house would have to be one at ground level that could survive immersion. I think that means a heavy stone/cement igloo shaped structure.

[zxcvbob]

I was just wondering about how to reinforce the front door so the cops couldn't kick it open -- even with that little battering ram they use, unless they want to keep pounding on it for 20 minutes. I think the door frame and the latch are probably more important than the actual door. Of course, it would have to have a chain so you could crack it open to talk to people on the other side if you wanted to. 5/16" safety chain? If they tried to kick it in while the door was cracked, it would bounce shut (breaking someone's foot, hopefully) and you could latch the bolt if you were fast.

An antique-looking 4 inch cannon in the front room would make a great conversation piece. Hopefully no one would ever have to find out that it was real and loaded with grapeshot.

Wood-frame construction (except for the heavy steel door frames) with lots of metal ties to hold the roof joists to the wall plates, and steel siding.

No basement, obviously.

Heavy full-sized shutters to cover the windows.

Small generator and transfer switch.

Best regards, Bob

[zxcvbob]

How did the narrator know that?

-Bob