Qualifying measures include actions such as securing a roof with
hurricane clips or wraps and installing impact-resistant glass on windows and openings.
There is much the public can do at modest cost to mitigate the damage in advance of hurricanes (
hurricane clips to keep the roof from blowing off, storm shutters to protect windows, etc.).
She recommends attaching roofs with
hurricane clips, which create a stronger connection between the roof and the house.
Moore's new residential building codes include requiring roof sheathing,
hurricane clips or framing anchors, continuous plywood bracing and wind-resistant garage doors.
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Hurricane clips to secure the trusses to the walls.
Fie analyzed the plans and explained that the beams would have to be connected by large
hurricane clips at the joints and gave an estimate for the number of nuts and bolts that would be required to make the structure sturdy.
Hurricane clips, straps, and anchors are utilized along the roof-to-wall, wall-to-wall, wall-to-floor, and floor-to-foundation connections.
According to Tim Marshall, meteorologist and failure and damage consultant at Haag Engineering Co., Dallas, "There are great cement or wood siding products that help stiffen the wood frame (as opposed to decorative vinyl or aluminum sidings)." Jackson singles out
hurricane clips or straps as an inexpensive way to reinforce your building's structural integrity.
Upon completion, they were glad their structure was secured with a slab that bolted with metal beams and
hurricane clips all around.
"In a few cases, there just weren't enough nails in
hurricane clips to begin with," van de Lindt remarks.
No
hurricane clips, no serious anchorage to the foundation--bad news.
Hurricane clips at these important joints can improve the security of older homes.