Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph. Although the storm’s wind field was relatively compact, its slow forward speed exposed coastal communities to hurricane-force winds for several hours, resulting in widespread structural damage across the Texas Coastal Bend. 

Harvey was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and became one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. The storm destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes, disrupted critical infrastructure, and highlighted the importance of resilient building design in hurricane-prone regions. 

Following the storm, IBHS conducted a comprehensive field investigation to document building performance under extreme wind conditions. The findings provide valuable insights into how building characteristics, construction practices, and mitigation measures influenced damage, helping advance building science and inform more resilient construction. 

To explore the complete findings, methodology, and recommendations: 

Download the Full Report: Hurricane Harvey Wind Damage Investigation  

For a quicker understanding: 

Download: Report Summary  

For IBHS member companies, to access the complete building performance dataset used in this investigation for additional analysis and research.