Newer homes seemed to fare much better than older structures during Hurricane Ian, suggesting that updated Florida building codes made a difference.
In the hardest-hit parts of southwest Florida, many newer structures remained mostly intact in the up to 120 mph winds generated by the hurricane. One photograph on one beach area shows 18 homes built before 1981 that were completely destroyed, but one house, built in 2020, appears to be almost unscathed.
That home is elevated above much of the storm surge level, but the roof also appears undamaged. CoreLogic says that wind losses in Lee County, one of the coastal areas with the most damage, were twice as high for structures built before 1996, when the state began tightening building codes for wind load.
CoreLogic’s computer models peg insured losses from Hurricane Ian from $22 billion to $32 billion, excluding flood damage. It’s much lower than losses coastal Florida would have seen if newer structures had not been built to the stronger standards, according to CoreLogic and other experts.
Related Stories
Libraries | Jan 23, 2020
Information or community center: The next generation of libraries must be both
Are libraries still relevant in a digital world?
Building Team | Dec 9, 2019
The right funding mechanism can help move your project forward
The following case studies illustrate some of the ways we’ve helped our clients navigate different tax credits.
Building Team | Nov 12, 2019
Autodesk and AGC to provide construction industry with custom-fitting safety harnesses for women
Construction technology provider and national trade organization launch grant program to help address industry need for better-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) for women working at heights.
Building Team | Oct 7, 2019
Contractor Giants are all in on offsite construction
Speed, quality, advanced coordination, and schedule gains are commonly cited as benefits of offsite construction.
Building Team | Jul 17, 2019
12 key features your AEC website could be lacking
Today’s A/E/C firms can no longer rely on the brochure-style websites of the past.
Building Team | May 21, 2019
Real estate learns to share
The sharing economy puts a different spin on new construction and building operations.
Building Team | Mar 22, 2019
AEC firms go outside the box
A look at six products and companies incubated by AEC firms for commercial sale.
Building Team | Feb 19, 2019
Strategies and tools to help navigate a successful M&A
Based on Hinge’s industry research, smaller firms typically spend a higher percentage of revenue on marketing and business development efforts for the same return.
Building Team | Feb 13, 2019
3 exciting tech developments that show promise for AEC adoption
The BD+C editorial team is on a mission to track and evaluate the latest tech tools and trends that show promise for widespread AEC adoption.
Building Team | Jan 10, 2019
Skilled labor shortages continue to make off-site fabrication and construction attractive
But the AEC industry’s “culture” impedes greater acceptance, according to a recent National Institute of Building Sciences survey.
