requiring storm shutters for windows and doors 

 on all new homes built within 1 ,500 feet of the 

 ocean. 



Several years ago, researchers from South 

 Carolina and North Carolina Sea Grant, Clemson 

 University and the Blue Sky Foundation designed 

 a new type of plywood storm shutter for all 

 homes. The shutters can be installed from the 

 inside. 



"Storm shutters may not be the 

 highest priority for hurricane retrofitting," 

 says Rogers. "But as the wind-resistance of 

 a building is improved, shutters become a 

 top priority in high-wind zones. For some 

 homes, threatening sources of debris may 

 make shutters the first priority," he says. 



The new style of shutters must be 

 prefitted. 



Rogers emphasizes that no single 

 technique will limit wind and water damage 

 during storms. "Each house is different. 

 What matters is finding the weakest 

 components and looking for the most cost- 

 effective priorities for each house." 



To minimize wind damage, Rogers 

 advises homeowners to pay attention to 

 connections — including using metal straps 

 or hurricane clips rather than nails alone to 

 secure the roof. 



Garages also can be problem zones 

 in high winds. "The garage is one of the 

 weakest points in the house for lateral wind 

 forces," says Rogers. "The consequences 

 of a door failure can be a greater structural 

 threat than a loss of a window elsewhere in 

 the house." 



His solution? Homeowners can install 

 extra bracing and heavier tracks designed for 

 high wind resistance. 



cover lost business income. 



In either case, the maximum limits do not 

 include land values. 



In 1 997, the legislature added a law to 

 provide insurance coverage for windstorm and 

 hail in coastal counties. In order to quality for the 

 catastrophic coverage, the property owners must 

 have additional property insurance written by 



Since Fran, homeowners along the coast 

 have better options for insurance coverage. 



The N.C General Assembly passed two 

 separate laws to amend the N.C. Beach Plan, 

 an independent, nongovernmental entity that 

 provides insurance coverage for coastal properties 

 when owners could not get traditional insurance. 



Maximum limits are $1 .5 million for 

 residential property for windstorm and 

 hail coverage along with $1 .5 million for a 

 homeowner dwelling for fire plus contents. 



For commercial property, there is a $3 

 million limit per location to cover fire, windstorm 

 and hail damage to the structure and contents, 

 while an additional allowance of $300,000 could 



TOP: A girl checks the beach after a 2005 storm. Parts of 

 North Topsail Beach have not recovered since Hurricane Fran 

 OTTOM: Fran's rains flooded streets in Surf City. 



licensed insurers. 



"Hurricane Fran deepened the insurance 

 crisis that led to extending coverage in the Beach 

 Plan," says Clark. "Cumulative concerns from 

 Fran and previous storms led to a greater focus on 

 insurance issues." 



In 2002, another law was passed that 

 offered homeowners' coverage for primary 

 residences in the 18 coastal counties of eastern 

 North Carolina. The plan previously offered only a 

 fire and dwelling policy, which provided no liability 

 or other needed coverage. The plan does not 

 include coverage for rental property. 



Insurance Commissionerjim Long stresses 

 that the legislation keeps costs reasonable, while 



offering broader protection. Long has the authonty 

 to approve rates in the Beach Plan, which are 1 5 

 percent higher than the rates in the traditional 

 coastal markets. The N.C. Department of Insurance 

 and the N.C. Rate Bureau set the rate in 2003. 



"Residents of eastern North Carolina no 

 longer have to struggle to find needed coverage at 

 affordable prices," Long says. "Finally, they can go to 

 one agent to get the coverage they need — to 

 protect their home from fire, wind, rain, 

 liability and other needed coverage — the 

 same protections a homeowner in the rest 

 of the state expects." 



Flood coverage still is only available 

 through the National Flood Insurance 

 Program. 



With the 2006 hurricane season upon 

 us, are we better prepared for another big 

 hurricane? 



"Fran and the hurricanes of the 1 990s 

 reminded residents of the damage caused 

 by large storms," says Rogers. 



But those memories may be fading. 

 Traditionally, barrier island 

 homeowners have used open areas 

 underneath piling-supported houses for 

 parking and storage, allowing waves to 

 pass under the house. But in the 10 years 

 since Fran, some areas have allowed 

 homeowners to put fully finished rooms 

 on the ground level. 



"It remains to be seen whether the 

 demand for even larger coastal homes will 

 overcome the memory of prior hurricane 

 damage," Rogers says. 



"During Hurricane Isabel in 2001 , 

 some of the newest homes were more 

 severely damaged than the classic beach 

 homes that became common in the 

 1960s." 



To order a copy of The Dune Book, contact Sandra 

 Harris, harriss@unity.ncsu.edu, 919/515-9101. 

 Or send $5 to North Carolina Sea Grant, NCSU Box 

 8605, Raleigh, NC27695. 



To find out more about North Carolina's Beach 

 Plan, call 919/821-1299 or visit the Web: www.ncjua- 

 nciua.org. 



There also are numerous Web sites about coastal 

 hazards, including: 



Sea Grant's National HazNet: www.haznet.org. 

 Clemson University's Wind Load Test Facility, 

 www.clemson.edu/special/hugo/wind.htm. 

 North Carolina Sea Grant, www.ncseagrant.org. 

 Follow the links to coastal hazards and outreach 

 activities. 



Coastwatch I Early Summer 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 



