Ixolib wrote:jinftl wrote:Skyscrapers in Ft. Lauderdale had their windows blown out from sustained borderline cat 1/2 winds in Wilma. I'd hate to see the result of Houston's dealing with even marginal cat 3 winds.
Fortunately, though, the damage was superficial - not structural. Quick and easy to fix. Looks bad - and would BE bad if you get sliced by a piece of falling glass.
Generally speaking, structures "closer to the ground" do just fine in most cases, even in cat 3/4 winds. Sure, they take a hit with the wind, but for the most part, they remain structurally sound. Again, quick and easy to fix. This, of course, is not including tornados and mini-vortices. With those, all bets are off!!
But surge is a whole different beast. Not quick to fix, not easy to fix, renders most structures it enters to be inhabitable, and often times, condemed.
While Wilma did her deed, much of her damage was not to a point where it rendered dwellings "structurally" impaired because her impact was primarily wind only. If surge had been an issue with Wilma, she'd still be in the news today!!!
Hide from the wind, but run from the water...
Andrew, Hugo, Dean, Felix, and Janet survivors would beg to differ with that statement if they resided in poorly constructed structures. Even well constructed structures received wind damage during these TCs, though they remained intact during the ordeals. Keep in mind that the costs for replacements/addendums due to wind damage (including broken windows, lost tiles, etc.) are significant as well.
I think it is dangerous to downplay surge AND wind... strong TS/Cat 1 winds can cause significant structural damage to unsound/poorly constructed buildings/residences.
a 220km/h towards Houston would simply be devastating !
Doc
