Changes in Attitudes
On August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew made headlines. The last of three category five storms to make landfall in the twentieth century, Andrew blasted into the southeast coast of Florida, packing sustained winds more than double the seventy-five mph (miles per hour) used to determine a tropical system is indeed hurricane strength. NOAA's (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) National Hurricane Center recorded peak gusts of one hundred sixty-four mph, and a one hundred seventy-seven mph reading was taken at a private home. Winds of this magnitude are sure to do damage. And damage it did, '... Andrew was the most destructive United States hurricane of record'-.NOAA.
In addition to the loss of sixty-five lives, an estimated thirty billion dollars in property loss, and leaving a monumental clean up in its wake, the storm was to alter both literally and figuratively, the landscape of the construction industry in the state.
Andrew had blown away a faade; revealing decades of shoddy building practices and codes not only obviously overlooked but also blatantly ignored. Mile after mile of what looked like war-torn battle field revealed construction standards and inspections procedures that many would have laughed at had they not been standing amongst rubble that was once their homes.
Twenty-five thousand,five hundred twenty-four homes were totally demolished, and over one hundred one thousand damaged to some extent; as a result, several insurance companies were unable to cover insured losses and declared bankruptcy.
There were extreme examples: support columns filled with crumpled newspaper instead of concrete, roof beams that should have been anchored with steel plates were found fastened with nothing, Styrofoam used as the most substantial material in some porch pillars, and cement that dissolved in the rain.
Residents say it is another example of the 'only-in-Florida' stories where developers and their powerful political lobbies have long influenced the fate and future of the industry.
The scrutiny that followed revealed the South Florida Building Code's (SFBC) wind-load requirements were grossly inadequate. "The building codes in Florida should have been a lot stronger," said Charles Glagola, a University of Florida civil engineering professor. "Hurricane Andrew," he also added, "should have taught the state a lesson."
The Building Departments' permitting and inspection procedures were also sub-standard. "We've had a problem with inspectors interpreting the codes in their own way; we're jumping through hoops for them." said Rhonda Scholtz, a window designer for Kolbe&Kolbe in Wausau, Wisconsin. The building code is supposed to eliminate a patchwork of building regulations across the state, but each community can interpret it differently. Confusion abounds. "We used to have 467 building codes,..." said Jack Glenn of the Florida Home Builders Association, "...now we have one code with 467 interpretations."
It was obvious, the construction trade was in dire need of overhaul. The teardown was complete; it was time to rebuild. New construction standards and practices had to be implemented ensure structural integrity, and the safety of individuals in and around homes and workplaces.
In the past, homes constructed were in accordance with the standard 'Southern Building Code', a 'one code fits all' approach written in 1945, provisioning a building standard for all southeastern states. After Hurricane Andrew, Florida adopted the 'Florida Building Code'; considerably more stringent regarding construction practices and regulation of inspections, initiating a much needed change. Andrew's destruction prompted the SBCCI(Southern Building Code Congress International) to adopt 'ASCE -7' (American Society of Civil Engineers) for determining wind loads on buildings. It was previously allowed for low-rise buildings and required for tall(above three stories) buildings. Ten tears ago, few designers (including structural engineers) were even familiar with 'ASCE-7', it has since become the standard for determining wind loads in the United States. Miami and Dade County quickly adopted the report, likely aiding in the facilitation of widespread acceptance.
Following Andrew, the state also began to enforce rules on the books since 1986. Homes now include sturdier foundations, hurricane straps instead of clips, better support of gable ends and eaves, more reinforcing bars, concrete to hold masonry blocks in place, and nails required instead of staples for fastening plywood to roof structures.
"There's been so much press, the code is so much more available, and it's a very well-read document,..." says Glenn, "...and a lot of people are now enforcing sections of the code that they've never enforced before like it was new."
Now, more than ten years later, one thing is certain: If you are buying a newly constructed home, it will cost more. The changes will add about fifteen hundred dollars to the cost of an average single-family home. In addition, there are positive aspects: the added costs are reflected in the value of real estate,and the peace of mind afforded by living in a more securely built structure. Insurance coverage and premiums are also adjusted accordingly.
Hurricane Andrew's power and destructiveness assure it a prominent place in history. For those who experienced the terror of its ferocious winds and those left with the task of repairing and rebuilding, Andrew will not soon be forgotten. When all is said and done however, this storm's greatest legacy may be that it taught us to more carefully design, construct, and maintain buildings to resist design wind loads in hurricane-prone and even non-prone areas.
If we use the knowledge and tools developed since Andrew, and continue to pursue the subject of preventing, or at least minimizing wind related damage, future strong storms will cause less damage, less injury and less emotional trauma.
Andrew's presence was more than just a storm on the horizon.
The title is borrowed
(without permission, but I'm
hopin' he'll let me slide)from
Jimmy Buffett's
"Changes in Lattitude,
Changes in Attitude"-1977
m Quotes from Mr. Glenn and Ms. Sholtz
obtained from August 19, 2002
St. Petersburg Times
article by JUDY STARK
Death and damage assesments are
as stated by
NOAA/NHC(National Hurricane Center)
The increased construction costs were quoted
utilizing various sources: insurance estimates and
quotes on coverage;first-hand experience,
and "coffee cup" conferences with
contractors, inspectors, and suppliers.
-buck.