We’re about 800 feet elevation so not worried about storm surge. We are in the middle of a rainforest though with monster trees all around and large plate glass windows. My biggest concern is a giant tree falling on our house or a missile through the front window.
When Iwa and Iniki hit, we were told to tape up our windows, and leave them open a little to allow the pressure gradient to equalize between inside and outside. Are people doing that in the Big Island?
We were looking at a house up high on Hualalei in the forest and wondering if the trees would create a windbreak in a hurricane or create more of a hazard. Mebbe fifty-fifty?
Yeah, we aren't talking about an Alaskan Bay style Tsunami so you should be good...
;-)
Thought about asking about that, though figured (a) it might sound insulting; and (b) there might be enough earthquake-proofing to handle this. The question I have will be whether there's enough wind lifting to take a roof off... that's one part of the building code that was specifically beefed up in Florida (hurricane straps), and would be my biggest concern for you... especially if there's nearby up-sloping terrain.
Re: Trees
Right. My hope there is that there is enough tree density to buffer you - and the trees - against the wind.
That's the big reason we native Floridians board up windows - they're vulnerable to breakage, of course, but once wind can get inside the structure, the roof is even more at risk.