I'm sure you are correct that many, or even most, did meet code... but that doesn't mean that the building codes were themselves adequate for the region.
Buddy,
The code was adequate, windows were rated at 120 MPH, at my house the wind speeds were over 130 MPH and they broke. Just a few miles away, they were less than 120 MPH and most of them at least the ones not hit with debris were intact. The only real problem were roofs, and many of them held, just a few houses had gable end roofs that were improperly braced, or had poorly installed hurricane straps. They had hurricane shutters that were torn off or damaged with debris, and they have strengthened hurricane shutter standards, as well as some roofing standards. But it is considered uneconomically feasible to make a house withstand 150 MPH gusting to 200, so if another Andrew hits there you won't see much difference in damage. |
