IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS IN THE U.S. GULF COAST REGION

摘要

Hurricane Katrina inflicted an incredible level of damage of light frame wood structures in the US Gulf Coast region. The devastation of nearly a quarter of million homes in the city of New Orleans alone was caused by a combination of flooding and wind. A substantial percentage of damaged buildings suffered the damage primarily due to lack of proper design for wind resistance. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many Gulf States, including Louisiana, have adopted stricter building codes. This paper provides an overview of the various types of damages suffered by light-frame wood construction during Hurricane Katrina and the lessons learned from these damages. It also provides an overview of the approach the impacted states have taken in the implementation of the code changes.