IBHS News Releases

You don’t have to lose your home when nature lets loose, says IBHS. You can better protect yourself and your family by upgrading or "retrofitting" your house against major windstorms.

First, find out if your home meets current building code requirements that were established for high-wind regions. Experts agree that structures built to meet or exceed current model building codes’ high-wind requirements have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms. Although no home can withstand a direct hit from a severe tornado, good construction will help your home survive if it’s to the side of the funnel’s track.

An inspector should pay particular attention to the windows and doors, roofing, gables and connections (roof-to-wall, wall-to-foundation). Residences in inland areas are traditionally not built to withstand wind forces that exceed 70 mph, and weaknesses in these parts of the house make it more vulnerable to significant damage.

Windows: When properly installed, modern impact-resistant window systems (commonly available in coastal areas) have a much better chance of surviving a major windstorm.

Entry Doors: Door frames must be securely anchored to house frames. Hinges, latches and dead-bolt locks should be strong enough to resist high winds. Double doors such as French doors need special attention because of the stress on the center latch.

Patio Doors: Sliding glass doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors. If you are replacing your patio doors or building a new home, consider installing impact-resistant door systems made of laminated glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass.

Garage Doors: Because of their size and construction, garage doors are highly susceptible to wind damage. A qualified inspector can determine if both the door and the track system are suitable for resisting high winds and replace them with a stronger system if necessary.

Double-wide doors are most vulnerable. Permanent wood or metal stiffeners can be installed and temporary center supports that are easy to attach and remove can be recommended by the door manufacturer. Contact the manufacturer’s technical staff for the necessary information.

Roofs: When replacing a roof, you can take steps to ensure that both the new roof covering and the sheathing it attaches to will resist high winds more effectively.

Your roofing contractor should:

Remove old coverings down to the bare wood sheathing.
Remove enough sheathing to confirm that rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls.
Replace damaged sheathing.
Refasten existing sheathing according to the proper fastening schedule outlined in the current model building code for high-wind regions. Typically, this will require 8-penny ring shank nails spaced at four inches on center of the sheathing around the roof’s edges and at the ridges. For interior panels, use 8-penny nails spaced at six inches on center.
Install a roof covering that is designed to resist high winds. Also consider adding a second layer of felt, secured with sufficient tin tabs, to avoid water damage.
Gables: The end wall of a gable roof must be properly braced to resist high winds. Check the current model building code for high-wind regions (the Standard Building Code of the Southern Building Code Congress, International, for example, or the International Residential Code) for appropriate guidance.

Connections: The points where the roof and the foundation meet the walls of your house are extremely important if your house is to resist high winds and the loads they place on the structure.

Metal clips and straps (most easily added when a roof is being replaced) are very effective at anchoring the roof to the walls.
When wind forces place stress on walls, it’s important that the walls be properly anchored to the foundation. A registered design professional, an engineer or an
architect can determine if these joints need retrofitting, which can be done by a qualified contractor.

For houses with more than one story, the connections between each level must be properly tied together.
These precautions can improve the odds of your home surviving high winds, but they won’t make it tornado-proof. Nor are they a guarantee of personal safety. Tornadoes can form and move quickly, so plan ahead.

When a tornado threatens, take shelter immediately. Go to a local community shelter or your own underground storm cellar or in-residence "safe" room. If your home has no storm cellar or in-residence "safe" room and you have no time to get to a community shelter, head to the centermost part of your basement or home – away from windows and preferably under something sturdy like a workbench or staircase. The more walls between you and the outside, the better.