Engineered for Hurricanes: The “Three Little Pigs” Were Almost Right

Meteorology Matters examines the impact of hurricanes and extreme weather on residential buildings. Many Europeans believe their older buildings are stronger than American’s when in reality they’re not engineered to handle extremes, while survivorship bias may play a role in their perception. While many think the “Three Little Pigs” are the end all and be all of tough building examples, engineering plays a vital role in how those materials actually perform. Wood can actually perform better than concrete if it’s engineered better than brick for example. We analyze different building materials and construction techniques, exploring their resistance to high winds, storm surge, and flooding. Then dive into the importance of strong connections between building components, such as roofs and walls, and explore vulnerabilities in different types of construction, such as wood-framed homes. Highlighting the importance of understanding regional wind vulnerabilities and using building codes and design practices that meet local needs, research emphasizes the need to address the growing problem of residential building failures due to extreme weather events, particularly in areas prone to hurricanes and tornadoes.