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Rocky Mountain Insurance Information
NEWS
6565 South Dayton St. #2400, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Serving Colorado, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming
Contact: Carole Walker, Executive Director
(303) 790-0216 or 1-800-355-9524
Release Date: Immediately
Topic: Catastrophes
LAST WEEK'S WINDS CAUSE ESTIMATED $9.6 MILLION IN INSURED DAMAGE
Apr. 30, 1999 - The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association (RMIIA) estimates that strong winds caused about $9.6 million in insured damage to Utah homes on April 23.
"Homes in Box Elder, Davis, and Weber counties took the brunt of Mother Nature's wrath," reports RMIIA Executive Director, Carole Walker. "Insurers expect to handle more than 6,000 claims for wind damage that occurred in those areas."
As this windstorm has proven, a sudden burst of wind can destroy or severely damage your home in seconds. Walker points out that "Utah homeowners don't have to suffer such damage. While no one can stop the wind, individual homeowners can take steps to upgrade their property to better withstand wind damage."
You can make upgrades at any time, but if this windstorm damaged your home, you can use the current repair and rebuilding process as an opportunity to effectively upgrade or retrofit your home against future windstorms. RMIIA suggests that homeowners first find out what the local building codes are, as structures built to meet widely accepted building codes have a much better chance of surviving high winds and the flying missiles they create out of the debris. Because your windows, doors, roofs, and wall connections can make your home more vulnerable to significant wind damage, the insurance industry encourages homeowners to focus on upgrading or protecting these areas.
Windows
Modern impact-resistant glass and properly installed frames give your windows a better chance of surviving a major wind storm.
Doors
There are three types of doors to consider:
- Entry doors should have hinges, latches, and dead-bolt locks that resist wind pressures. If you have double entry doors, such as French doors, pay special attention to the center latch. All door frames should be securely anchored to house frames.
- Sliding glass patio doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than many other doors. If you have warning of strong winds in your area, cover the entire patio door with plywood shutters.
- Garage doors should have a track system that resists high winds. Because of their size, double-wide doors are very vulnerable and can be strengthened by installing permanent wood stiffeners and temporary center supports, both of which can be designed by door manufacturers or a local installer.
Roofs
When replacing your roof, the new roofing and sheathing to which it attaches will better resist wind damage if your roofing contractor: (1) removes old coverings to the bare wood sheathing; (2) replaces damaged sheathing; (3) refastens old sheathing; and (4) installs wind-resistant roofing material, such as asphalt shingles. Also, to resist high winds, the end wall of a gable roof must be properly braced. An inspector can help you decide if your gable end walls are strong enough.
Wall Connections
The points where the walls meet the roof and foundation are key to whether or not your house can resist wind pressures. To transfer wind forces from the roof to the walls, anchor the roof to the walls by adding metal hurricane clips when you replace your roof. To resist the stress of wind forces, walls need to be properly anchored to the foundation, which may require you to have the joints retrofitted. If your home has more than one story, the connection of levels must be properly tied together.
"It may sound odd to be talking about hurricane clips in Utah, but don't forget that wind bursts and tornadoes can exceed the wind speed found in a hurricane," notes Walker.
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Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is a non-profit consumer information organization. Affiliated with the Insurance Information Institute, RMIIA has been serving consumers and the media since 1952.
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