Hurricane-proof House

[Michael Daly]

FEMA sets building codes?

Mike

[Duane Bozarth]

Yes, when one attempts to do something inherently fool^h^h^h^hrisky, one should at least make the effort to protect the investment. It's still an area not really suitable for the use.

Those that were flooded, probably not, although what is going to be done is pretty well still in the future...

Relocated, yes. Permanent location, job? I suspect that would probably be In 20 years the only thing that will be allowed to be built around here will

As it should be if in such a location. It simply isn't a very good choice of location for building permanent structures. I've thought what folks who want to live in such places should do would be to simply build disposable houses and when the big one comes leave, planning from the beginning to simply bulldoze and start again. Be cheaper, structurally, albeit less convenient.

[Duane Bozarth]

No, not specifically. They have made some efforts particularly since the spate of FL hurricanes to address design issues regarding roofs, etc., for enhancing survivability. The results I've seen haven't been uniformly successful attempts as, for one example, the guidelines for upgrading asbestos shingle roofs apparently were developed and published internally or w/ consulting input but not using any input from any of the manufacturers, etc. Consequently, there are published guidelines for which there are no commercially available materials to meet.

[Goedjn]

Cat-5 Hurricane winds start at 155mph. Tornados start at around 200mph, and a Cat-5 tornado has wind speeds in excess of 300mph.

Wind loads appear to be calculated according to the formula PSF=(mph^2)/250, or thereabouts.

So for a worst-case hurricane, you have to design for side-loads (and uplift) of 160PSF, whereas for tornadoes, its around 360PSF. For comparison, the floor of your house is typically designed for around 60PSF. (Of course the limit for the floor is acceptable deflection, rather than yield strength, so if you built your house so that any face could be the floor, you'd probably be OK in the hurricane.)

The good news is, if you can manage this, floodwaters should be trivial, at least in terms of mechanical damage.

[Goedjn]

Less than 50 cubic feet, but not much less. If you stored it under the bed, the bed would have to be 32" high, plus the mattress. It would also weigh in excess of one US statute ton, so you might want to spread it around a bit.

(Reality check: Dinty Moore Beef stew is 222 calories/cup, so you need 10 cups/day. Since it comes in cans, there's wasted space to the tune of an extra 25% so the storage volume is 12.5 cups/day or around 10 days/cubic foot, for food. Counting the wasted space, water is around 7 gallons/cubic foot. with around, .4cuft wasted space. Figure 2000 calories/day, and 1 gallon of water.) Use the space between cans and bottles for vitamin supplements, other drugs, variety-food)

Each of your 1,800 cups of stew weighs 236 grams, or around 1/2 a pound, call it 1,000 pounds of stew and can. Each of your 180 gallons of water weighs 8 1/3 pounds or 1500 pounds, total.) Note that you can probably get your food volume/weight down if you work at it, but most of the really lightweight/small packaged foods depend on having a ready supply of water to re-constitute. Rumor has it that eating a dehydrated ration without rehydrating it FIRST is really, really bad. As in, may well kill you bad.

--Goedjn

[HMFIC-1369]

I'm not a survivor nut just a Cosco, BJ, Sams kind a guy. Food really not much space, but water is a lot, but you can cut water if using a lot of canned foods (because of water). I keep lots of dried legumes, nuts and fruits. I also pick up cases of ensure and power bars when on sale. But don't laugh I actually have a river next to the house... The water is for the little woman. I got my filtration pac. I use 1/2 Gal. perday this is good for heat of summer. I have 20 5 gallon and 10 1 gallon and 6 32 bottle cases. With all the food and gear 12 foot wide by 36" deep and 8 foot high. It takes up one small wall.

The water is really no problem I get it delivered, plus we don't use tap here many years ago it was great but the last 10 heavy chlorination. and normal daily use is pretty consistent with morning coffee to 1 G.

[HMFIC-1369]

We don't get much Cat 5's up here!!!!

[HMFIC-1369]

The food is expensive? Look if need be I can pack a canoe or the Kayaks and head where ever!

Don't over estimate the fear factor, in a catastrophic event, you already beat the system if you live. Then you have to address what and where. I'm located in a pretty good valley that protects is from all directions because of how it follows the river. I could flood but that would have to be enough to flood the whole valley and since it's most narrow miles north the flood plains will handle it there. and honestly if anything does flood the food and gear are all sealed.

I wouldn't build a house to take a Cat 5, I'd let it go and move!!!

[Robatoy]

Interesting angle. You'd get to change the design every so many years. I like the concept. Let the old one blow away. I guess it's all in how one looks at things, eh?

[Steve]

[Notan]

Have you ever seen a boat on the water, during a hurricane.

Apparently, not.

Notan

[Morris Dovey]

| A boat on a foundation. It would break away and float in the event | that the water got too high. Or one on pilings high enough to | withstand Katrina

You mean like one of those big casino boats?

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[JerryD(upstateNY)]

Four Hellraisers in 04, huh ? How did FEMA do it these ? What was the difference between Florida and NO ? Was it Jeb Bush VS Kathleen Babineaux Blanco ?

[Goedjn]

It makes it easier to figure out where to park the house, it keeps the house from sinking wandering around during normal weather, it keeps the wooden bits away from the wood-eating dirt, and it gives you a fixed point to which you can anchor your utilities.

--Goedjn

[Notan]

... and provides an attractive launching pad.

Notan

[Cherokee-Ltd]

"The length of the Ark shall be 300 cubits, the breadth of it 50 cubits, and the height of it 30 cubits. A window shall thou make to the Ark and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above." - God

[Goedjn]

Possible, but I'd think it would be easier, cheaper, and less of a shock to the local code inspector if you build a concrete cellar... no this is N'Orleans, so there is no cellar.. I'm still voting for a concrete perimeter foundation, 12" above grade, with a 24" sealed "barge" platform as the ground floor. that gives you a displacement of 2cuft per square-foot or area, which means a total building+occupancy weight of around 120psf.. so you're limited to heavy 1-story buildings, or light 2-story ones. When you outgrow the house, though, you can jack the whole thing up 10', and build a (floodable) ground floor underneath, on the existing footings.

[Cato]

Metric?

[Duane Bozarth]

I don't know, at least there was always a standard at hand (so to speak)... :)