Strategies for Wind Damage Mitigation—Summary

Abstract

Wind damage to buildings and structures in the United States costs approximately $4 billion a year, mostly to nonengineered buildings. Civil engineers should help identify structural problems (weak links) in these buildings and effective ways to correct the problem so that improved building codes and better construction practices can result in a reduction of damage. Strategies for mitigation involve many facets, such as educating the public that much can be done to reduce wind damage with minor improvement of buildings and minor cost increases; disseminating research findings and new knowledge to engineers, architects, builders, contractors, insurance companies, building code officials, and the public; incorporating key research findings into building codes and common practice; improving code enforcement; providing incentives through insurance‐premium reduction; and intensifying research to identify the most effective and economical ways to improve building performance. An international effort to share information and knowledge in wind‐disaster mitigation—the concept of International Decade of Disaster Mitigation, proposed by Dr. Frank Press, President of the National Academy of Science—should also be part of a global strategy.