
He said compared with hurricanes, tornadoes and, to a lesser extent, hail, such winds are a relatively small contributor to structural damage at present. But he added that as the climate changes, NSSL researchers believe these events will become more frequent and therefore contribute more significantly to overall damage.
“Based on what we know about the potential patterns of climate change, we expect severe storm activity to increase in Texas and the Midwest, including higher activity of straight-line winds with potentially damaging effects,” Mr. Brooks said.
One way to mitigate against storm damage is to build stronger buildings. Better building performance can be assured by spending a few percent more on construction that goes beyond the minimum building code requirements, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). Tim Reinhold of IBHS advocated tougher building standards that will hold up in the face of increased storms….
Hildalgo County, Texas, July 30, 2008 -- Eight days following Hurricane Dolly's landfall, residents were still cut off by flood waters and had to wade through water to reach passable roads. Photo by Patricia Brach/FEMA
No comments:
Post a Comment