Protecting Your Fire Island Property from Wind...
Are You At Risk?
If you aren't sure whether your house is at risk from hurricanes or
tornadoes, check with your local building official, city engineer, or
planning and zoning administrator. They can tell you whether you are in an
area where these high-wind events occur. Also, they usually can tell you
how to protect yourself and your house and property from the effects of
high winds.
What You Can Do
Hurricane and tornado protection can involve a variety of changes to
your house and property -- changes that can vary in complexity and cost.
You may be able to make some types of changes yourself. But complicated or
large-scale changes and those that affect the structure of your house or
its electrical wiring and plumbing should be carried out only by a
professional contractor licensed to work in your state, county, or city.
One example of hurricane and tornado protection is clearing the area
around your house to remove trees and materials that can be hazardous
during high winds. Removing debris and small trees are things that many
homeowners can probably do on their own.
Remove Trees and Potential Windborne Missiles
 If the area
immediately surrounding your house contains trees, outbuildings, trash
cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind, your
house will be more likely to be damaged during a hurricane or tornado. The
wind can topple trees onto your house and can pick up smaller objects and
drive them through windows and glass doors.
You should ensure that all trees are far enough away from your house
that they can't fall on it. So the distance between your house and any
nearby tree should always be greater than the height the tree will reach
when it is fully grown. All storage sheds and other outbuildings should be
securely anchored, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and
ground anchors. Smaller objects, such as trash cans, barbecue grills, and
outdoor furniture should also be anchored or, if you have adequate
warning, moved indoors. You should also clear away any debris, such as
fallen tree branches.
Tips
Keep these points in mind when you remove trees and potential windborne
missiles from around your house:
- Removing large trees near your house can be extremely dangerous, for
both you and your house, and therefore is a job for a skilled
contractor.
- The straps and ground anchors used for manufactured homes also can
be used to anchor outbuildings, especially small garden sheds, which are
usually not placed on a permanent foundation.
- You can secure outdoor furniture and barbecue grills by bolting them
to decks or patios or by attaching them to ground anchors with cables or
chains.
- You can secure trash cans with cables or chains attached to ground
anchors or to wood posts firmly embedded in the ground. Trash can lids
should be tied to cans with cables or chains.
Estimated Cost
If you hire a contractor to remove a large tree, you can expect to pay
about $300 to $500. Having a contractor anchor a storage shed with straps
and ground anchors will cost about $100 to $200.
Other Sources of Information
Against the Wind, FEMA 237 (Brochure 2-0003; Video 0-0001), 1993
Building Performance: Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii -- Observations,
Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA-23, January 29, 1993
Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida -- Observations,
Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA-22, December 21, 1992
Best Build I, Constructing a Sound Coastal Home, FEMA and the
NAHB (videotape)
To obtain copies of these and other FEMA documents, call FEMA
Publications at 1-800-480-2520. Information is also available on the World
Wide Web at http//:www.fema.gov
Source: FEMA |
