HURRICANE AMNESIA
It’s time to reflect; the 2008 hurricane season is upon us. I recently received a call from a columnist who had attended the Governor’s Hurricane Conference and the World of Hurricane Protection trade show. He mentioned that he felt as though the hurricane protection industry was using scare tactics to promote their products. This could not be farther from the truth.

It seemed as though someone had a case of what I like to call Hurricane Amnesia. This is a condition in which people forget how devastating natural disasters can be to their personal property, their loved ones and their communities when time passes between storms.

After a 27-year period of little to no hurricane activity in South Florida, Hurricane Andrew devastated the area in 1992. In Florida, there were 65 deaths and $25 billion in damage attributed to Andrew. Andrew reportedly destroyed 25,524 homes and damaged 101,241 others. The Dade County grand jury reported that 90 percent of all mobile homes in south Dade County were totally destroyed. In Homestead, more than 99 percent (1,167 of 1,176) of all mobile homes were completely destroyed. The Miami Herald reported $500 million in boat losses in southeast Florida. Lack of water, electricity, fuel, food, emergency services and other necessities caused victims much strife during the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The human suffering was virtually immeasurable.

Andrew sparked a revolution in South Florida building codes. After a thorough review of the damage, surveyors had a much better understanding of what measures to take to minimize potential losses in the future. Unfortunately, these changes were only made in South Florida Building Code (Miami-Dade and Broward counties).

Shutter manufacturers and companies like PGT began to get involved in the research and development of more durable products like impact-resistant windows and stronger shutter systems. This marked the beginning of the industry investing time and money into developing products to meet these new requirements. In 1996 PGT Industries introduced the first complete line of impact-resistant windows and doors. Shutter manufacturers began introducing new and innovative designs to meet new testing requirements and provide more choices for homeowners.

In July of the same year, the Florida Building Code Study Commission was formed. In 1998, the Florida legislature authorized the establishment of a uniform code and the Florida Building Commission. This became the 2001 edition of the Florida Building Code.

Another 12 years pass without a major event and by then everyone has gotten Hurricane Amnesia (again), or consider this: on average, Florida gains approximately 484,600 new citizens annually—most of whom have never experienced a hurricane.

In August 2004, Hurricane Charley hit Punta Gorda, FL, as a Category 4 storm and caught the community unprepared. Charley caused $15 billion in damage. An estimated two million people lost power and many lost their lives. It was widely assumed that hurricanes were not a threat to those who lived inland, but Charley disproved that theory and caused extensive damage from the Port Charlotte area across the entire state to Daytona on the east coast. Homes that had been built under the 2001 Florida Building Code fared better during Charley, but the hurricane protection industry still had a lot to learn. Due to the geographic nature of Florida, evacuation was virtually impossible unless people were willing to leave days ahead of the storm.

We hadn’t seen the end of 2004 yet when Francis, Ivan and Jeanne hit Florida. Each storm seemed to have a personality of its own. Ivan devastated the panhandle area due to an immense storm surge that virtually wiped out all coastal homes causing nearly $13 billion in damage, while Francis ($9 billion in damage) and Jeanne ($6.8 billion in damage) were extremely wet storms that introduced water infiltration damage to the mix.

In 2005, we started with Hurricane Dennis ($4 billion in damage) hitting the panhandle of Florida followed by Hurricane Katrina. Although Katrina was a minimal storm when it crossed Florida, it became the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history when it hit Louisiana causing over $81 billion in damage. Then, Hurricane Rita hit Texas and caused over $10 billion in damage.

Hurricane Wilma hit Florida and proved to be the ultimate demonstration of the public’s general refusal to prepare for hurricanes. Wilma was one of the few storms whose path was predicted a week ahead of time with virtual certainty. The governor’s office even issued numerous preparation reminders in South Florida, but Hurricane Amnesia had struck again. The morning after the storm, people were lined up for blocks waiting for water, ice and other supplies. People in South Florida were not prepared for the storms that wreaked havoc in the area.

Because 2006 and 2007 were quiet years it is a safe bet Hurricane Amnesia has set in again. So much of the damage and loss of life is preventable with a little preparation. Experts such as the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), the International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA), the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Florida Building Commission and the hurricane protection industry do everything possible to offer the public the necessary tools needed to protect themselves, their loved ones and their property. Hurricane damage and Hurricane Amnesia are preventable. All it takes is a little preparation.

—IHPA board member Dave Olmstead is senior public affairs and code compliance specialist for PGT ® and a member of the Florida Building Commission’s Hurricane Advisory Committee and the Florida Building Commission’s Structural Technical Advisory Committee

GOLF TOURNAMENT ANOTHER SUCCESS
The sixth annual IHPA golf tournament was another huge success. Held at the beautiful Shingle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, FL, the outing received a tremendous response.

It was hard to imagine a more ideal day for the tournament held in conjunction with the World of Hurricane Protection Trade Show & Conference in April.

Golf carts are lined up and ready to head for the tees at the start of the IHPA golf outing in April at Orlando’s Shingle Creek Golf Club.

This year’s winning team was Craig Lightle, Mike Steele, Ivan Diaz and Bill Feeley from Eastern Metal.

HURRICANE PROTECTION REPRESENTED AT BOAF CONFERENCE
The IHPA and Hurricane Protection magazine participated in the 56th annual Building Officials Association of Florida (BOAF) Conference June 9 and 10 in Naples, FL.

More than 500 building officials, plans examiners, inspectors, contractors and designers attended the conference, which featured a number of CEU courses, general sessions, a companion program and a vendor area with more than 50 exhibiting companies.

The next BOAF conference will be held May 17 to 21, 2009, in Daytona Beach, FL.