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Officials Hope New Building Codes Reduce Damage

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BY MARK DOUGLAS

News Channel 8

Published: May 23, 2008

When it comes to hurricanes, some Gulf of Mexico homes have a view to die for.

A new generation of building codes, enhanced and tweaked from the destructive experience of recent storms, is one thing disaster planners and building officials are counting on to prevent that from happening.

They're also banking on something far less complex to save lives when storms threaten homes and businesses along Florida's coastline: old-fashioned common sense.

Rob Nagin, Pinellas County's assistant director of building and development review services, said new building codes are no guarantee against the destructive power of major storms. "I think any community that takes a [Category] 4 or [Category] 5 hurricane would be in trouble," Nagin said.

The building official said hurricanes such as Charlie and Ivan that struck Charlotte County and the Panhandle in 2004 directly impact regulations governing how people now build Gulf-front and Bay-front homes in areas closest to the water where the most violent effects of a hurricane's storm surge occur.

One of the most obvious building and zoning code changes in recent years is that new structures close to the water have to be built nine to 12 feet above sea level to protect against the destructive power of storm surges. "You avoid the 1 percent chance of a surge taking your house down," Nagin said.

Buildings that formerly might have been located seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line where special regulations dictate construction will now have to move behind that line in the sand if rebuilt after a storm destroys them.

New construction along the coast also has to withstand 130 mph winds. That translates to such things as stronger straps and clips that hold roofs and walls together, and anchoring elevated structures to support pilings. Nagin said Spanish-style red clay barrel roof tiles may become outlawed because they are fragile and hard to keep fastened to roofs during high winds.

Peter Clark, Founder of Tampa Bay Watch, said his nonprofit organization spent $1 million building a marine center several years ago on the waterfront near Fort DeSoto. Clark said concrete pilings elevate that building 15 feet above sea level and extend 40 feet deep to the bedrock below for additional strength.

Clark chose concrete composite siding for the exterior walls of his center. "Not only does it stay on the side of the building during extreme winds but it can also take a lot of impact without shattering or blowing off the building," Clark said.

Doors on the marine center have four hinges, three anchoring points for locking, and are made with impact resistant glass that Clark said cost about $18,000 for the entire building. "It's just about bullet proof."

Bullet proof, elevated, fortified against the wind. Plenty of protection for most storms but still not enough to convince Clark to stick around and watch a hurricane roll in.

That's where the common sense disaster planners and government building officials say is more important for coastal residents than any building code or zoning requirement comes in.

I would not stick around to usher the hurricane ashore," Clark said. When it does come, I'll be high and dry somewhere in-state."

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