Now might be a good time for residents of south Florida to review their high skool physics, particularly as it pertains to wind.
The pressure of wind on a vertical surface is, in theory, a function of the SQUARE of wind speed. Therefore, the wind pressure applied to a window or a wall, if wind speed doubles (let’s say from 75 mph to 150 mph), doesn’t double — it increases by four times. A sobering thought, if you’ve been through a minimal hurricane with “only” 75 mph winds.
And I say the fourfold increase is “in theory” because it gets worse. In an area with tall buildings, you get a canyon effect — walk around any sizeable downtown on a breezy day, and you’ll notice that a gentle 10 mph wind may become 20 or more when you go around a corner.
Further, wind speeds are higher at higher elevations, such as the 20th or 50th floors. Glass is therefore more likely to be blown out on the 50th floor than on the ground floor.
And then, there’s the flying debris. Maybe your windows will remain intact in a 100 mph wind. But will they survive tree branches, shingles, and other debris flying at 100 mph? Obviously, the effect is cumulative. Once debris gets airborne, it breaks things, and causes more debris.
We’ve had little experience with a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane directly hitting a densly populated major downtown area, but we may get it this time. Outright building collapses due to wind would be rare (storm surges are a different matter), but major “blowouts” of glass curtainwalls in highrise office buildings, hotels, and condos could well occur. Buildings flex and torque in high winds, sometimes enough to cause massive failures of their glass “skins.”
Anyone determined to ride out Irma in a Miami, Miami Beach, or Ft. Lauderdale highrise needs to be prepared to move to concrete stairwells and elevator lobbies (I’d take a bottle of wine and a corkscrew, but that’s just me) should a direct hit occur. Get away from the glass!
Sound advice.
As does the lift on that pitched roof that looks like an airplane wing.
a few things i have learned and developed over the years. No hurricanes here but we have had tornadoes and snow storms that brought down homes, barns, etc. lots of trees, light poles etc.
wood stove/coal stove is a must if possible.
large trash cans clean will hold alot of water off the roof.
stash up 10 of everything you buy and/or use on a regular basis, a little at a time.
first aid kit is kept well in a tool box.
insulin is ok for 30 days out the fridge, it will decrease in potency. if nothing else, dig a decent hole on the north side, put a small cooler in the ground and cover it. make sure there is way to access it. that will keep it cool as well.
its sort of a modified root cellar.
pack away some goodies, just for that situation.
out here we all have horses, livestock, pets. plan for them too. food, vet care, water.
i ordered a water filter years ago from monolithic marketplace. cost me $47 which included the spigot.
Had my own buckets. is as good as the top brands and cheaper.
if you have to make a filter of sorts: bucket with small hole and screen over that. put in sand..charcoal (not briquets)..gravel..rocks. in that order.
real charcoal is just burnt hardwoods. put this bucket over or on another or something to catch drip. this is a decent water filter.
if you got the gumption, look for a copy of “Where there is no doctor”..”where there is no dentist”..”where there is no mechanic”.
Very good books written by a Doc working in 3rd world countries.
olive oil will burn in a pinch. crisco works better. smell is not so good. keep lamp oil in bottles till needed. wont evaporate that way.
just some thoughts.
Precisely.
Hey there SNC. Good to hear from you. Stop by the NC board for a visit!