Change Leader: Prioritize Resilient Design, Especially in Hurricane-Prone Areas

In hurricane-prone areas, prioritizing resilient design features such as reinforced structures, stormwater management systems and backup power solutions is crucial but often overlooked. These elements can significantly mitigate damage during emergencies, ensuring buildings and infrastructure withstand severe weather conditions.

Firsthand Experience

I have firsthand knowledge when it comes to the impact of a storm surge, including when I experienced Hurricane Andrew. Although this was considered a “dry hurricane,” the storm surge reached 16.9 feet near Biscayne Bay. The bulk of the damage from this storm was due to the embedded tornadoes, flying debris and the widespread poor construction.

I also learned the importance of resilient design features. Through firsthand observation and professional involvement in reconstruction efforts, I have seen how poor construction exacerbates damage and prolongs recovery.

After Hurricane Andrew, I was contracted to serve as the architect and construction manager for the reconstruction of 350 condos damaged by the storm, where I observed failed building structures, mis-constructed roof trusses that were not strapped down, large sliding-glass doors that were not impact rated and lack of available temporary coverings. There was a direct correlation to the damage and the quality of construction across the 20 buildings I was working on. Additional damage was caused by post-hurricane rainstorms and a lack of temporary roof coverings, due to the growth of mold and mildew.

Hurricane Ian struck Fort Myers in September 2022, and the Punta General Aviation Terminal had just been completed. Fortunately, the building had been designed as an essential facility with higher wind-speed resistance, resulting in very little damage to the building. The terminal was used as a staging area for the Army National Guard and the Coast Guard shortly after the storm’s passing. The standing seam metal roof had hidden fasteners and clip-type anchors, impact-rated doors and windows, exterior cladding that was installed with wind-rated anchors, reinforced CMU walls, trusses with tie-downs and the provision for a mobile emergency generator quick-connect on the building’s exterior, making this facility useful for emergency operations.

Design Proactively

These are just a few examples of how important reinforced structures, stormwater management systems and backup solutions can be in hurricane-prone areas. It’s imperative to be proactive and design facilities with resilience in mind, and not design to “code minimum” standards. This is a hallmark of sustainable design and an attribute worthy of our consideration for future generations.

Both wind- and water-damage mitigation should be considered when designing terminal buildings. Terminals located near the coastline have greater requirements for flood and stormwater resistance, therefore the careful design of the structural frame and foundations are critical to the building’s survival. Fort Myers Beach, destroyed by Hurricane Ian, still is in recovery mode in 2024, and the damage from the hurricane will have a lasting impact on the community.

Safety First

Personally, my family no longer rides out a hurricane in an area prone to or within a flood zone; we evacuate and leave the area. Airports, commercial properties and residential homes alike should have a pre-storm plan and infrastructure in place to help ease the impact of a storm. In addition, be sure to download a hurricane-supply checklist and buy supplies you may need at the beginning of the hurricane season—not the week of the storm. A useful resource, which includes access to a hurricane supplies checklist, is the National Weather Service website at bit.ly/4fqWx8w.