The Power of the Wind

Wind can knock out or force open windows and doors, rip off roof sheathing (decking) and destroy gable end walls. Over-hanging eaves and gable end rakes, extended awnings, open porches, and other features that trap air beneath them are particularly susceptible to being damaged or torn off the building during a hurricane.

Windborne debris from neighboring buildings, including shingles and tiles, can break windows and damage roof coverings, walls, windows and doors. With or without the help of wind blown objects, the wind can push in a garage door, window, or other doors on the windward side of the house and pressurize the inside, increasing uplift forces on the roof (in some cases doubling them). In fact, these powerful forces can literally lift the roof right off of the house.

When wind forces break open part of a home, wind and water enter the home and damage to the interior escalates dramatically. Because older, less wind resistant homes often break open regularly in high winds, much of the focus over the past couple of decades has been on strengthening the structure and load resisting connections in homes.