Lee Michaels wrote:
I am really curious as to the effect of having hurricane ties and/or better
fasteners would have had on those houses. I know, you get hit hard enough,
almost nothing will standu up tothe force. But I saw houses that the second
story was removed. Would a stonger tie-in to the first story have prevented
that?

From this one, quite likely I'd say judging from the level of damage
(not terribly extensive, just serious).

The consequences have a lot to do w/ shape as well and I wondered on the
one of the second floor it it wasn't somewhat unusual initially--perhaps
not, but it made me wonder what it was initially.

The houses with the siding gone made me wonder if that would have happened
with screws? Maybe the wind would have just bent them all up.

Looked like vinyl -- it'll shred and tear w/ very little wind,
comparatively, irrespective of the fastener.

I assume if big storms happen there that building codes would have been
strengthened recently. Older houses would not have the improvements.

In general, they have very benign weather there -- generally far enough
inland to avoid worst of hurricanes and tornadoes are pretty uncommon.

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