"We desperately need to build stronger, safer homes and businesses that are resistant to windstorm effects," said Tim Reinhold, PhD, PE, senior vice president of research and chief engineer at Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), at a hearing today to promote an enhanced understanding of windstorms and the risks they pose throughout the United States.

Dr. Reinhold testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation of the Committee on Science and Technology, as Congress is considering reauthorization of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP) and allocation of funding. He not only emphasized his definition of windstorm -- which is considerably broader than hurricanes -- particularly as it pertains to the nation's recent risks, but also explained that research also would potentially minimize the detrimental effects of tornadoes and wind-driven wildfires. This testimony reinforced the idea that opportunities do exist for the federal government to not only support research to make homes and businesses more resilient when exposed to violent windstorms but also to remove barriers to developing hazard resistant construction.

"During the past decade, with the exception of Hurricane Katrina, we have seen a dramatic reduction in the loss of life during hurricanes because of better warning and evacuation systems," said Dr. Reinhold. "However, these gains are tempered by dramatic increases in property losses, as our nation concentrates more of its population and wealth along our vulnerable coastlines and in areas at greater risks for wildfires."

According to IBHS, many experts are concerned that a fast-developing and fast-moving hurricane could produce a large loss of life among people trapped in evacuation traffic jams. At the hearing, Dr. Reinhold recommended that the NWIRP concentrate primarily on three areas: developing an enhanced understanding of the events, including a clearer definition of the parameters that are important to the design and performance of the built environment; conducting research directed at better understanding and modeling of the interaction of the events with the built environment; and carrying out research aimed at improving building codes, developing effective mitigation measures and analysis tools to improve design efficiency as well as assess the benefits of mitigation measures or design requirements on both component and system performance.

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IBHS Urges Government To Fund Windstorm Protection Strategies

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