The Institute for Business & Home Safety says Houston is dragging behind its Gulf Coast neighbors with regards to improving building codes following Hurricane Katrina.
While some coastal communities have stepped up their building standards, the changes haven’t been adopted by nearby inland communities which also run a high risk for wind damage during storms.
IBHS Chief Engineer and Senior Vice President of Research Tim Reinhold says, “Houston pops up as a prime example of this risky proposition. While the Texas Department of Insurance high-wind standards have been implemented with varying degrees of success in coastal communities, Houston area homes and businesses have been built with little regard for hurricane winds.”
A recent survey of the Houston area by IBHS engineers found dramatic variations in the quality of coastal construction, and “very poor construction in the Houston metropolitan area.”
Well, damn.
— Olivia Flores Alvarez
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2008.