Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Mitigation Strategy Report <br />FEMA-1134-DR-NC <br /> <br />State of North Caroli na <br />Division of Emergency Management <br /> <br />. Mitigation of Damage from High Winds <br /> <br />. Retrofitting for High Wind Loads <br /> <br />Structures built in compliance with NFIP standards and current building codes fared well with respect <br />to high winds. Wind related damages sustained by residential structures, particularly those built along <br />the coast prior to the adoption of NFiP standards and State building codes, were more severe. For <br />instance, many of the pre-FIRM structures built along North Topsail Beach sustained significant wind <br />damages. Other coastal communities, such as Wrightsville Beach, which has initiated strong flood <br />regulations in accordance with the Community Rating System (CRS), sustained less damage relative <br />to nearby municipalities. <br /> <br />Overall, most of the wind damages sustained as a result of Hurricane Fran were non-structural. <br />Retrofitting existing buildings to beller withstand the impacts of wind damage during a hurricane is <br />often a relatively inexpensive procedure. Shutters offer an effective means of preventing glass breakage <br />from flying debris and wind pressure. They can be as simple as plywood sheets or as intricate as <br />automatic motorized metal panels. An alternative to shutters is the application of plastic film sufficient <br />to resist the penetration of flying debris. Garage doors can be reinforced to withstand hurricane winds. <br />Allics can have transverse braces installed to reinforce outside end walls. Connections running from <br />the roof to the foundation can be added to safely transfer loads through the structure to the ground. <br /> <br />Project Blue Sky is a program that provides technical assistance to homeowners regarding the retrofilling <br />of homes against wind, flood, fire and earthquake hazards. By utilizing the latest research, materials, <br />and construction techniques, homes can be designed to be stronger and more hazard-resistant. A <br />demonstration house is near completion in Southern Shores that utilizes a myriad of possible hazard- <br />resistant construction techniques. The home will serve as an education center for building contractors, <br />developers, researchers, public officials, and the general public. Projects such as CRS and Blue Sky <br />should be encouraged and publicized throughout North Carolina. Communities experiencing new <br />development, or those considering the retrofitting of existing structures, should consult with Blue Sky <br />officials. Communities should also consider incorporating techniques associated with CRS and Project <br />Blue Sky into their existing building codes, subdivision ordinance, and flood ordinance. <br /> <br />. Wind-Related Damage to Low Pressure Pipe Systems <br /> <br />Community low-pressure pipe (LPP) subsurface wastewater systems were developed as an <br />alternative to package treatment plants. These systems are utilized primarily in suburban areas not <br />served by conventional municipal or county systems. The cities of Raleigh and Cary have policies <br />denying the provision of waste water services to subdivisions in the Falls Lake or Swift Creek <br />watersheds. However, some developers chose to use LPPs in these watersheds. Ten private <br />community LPP systems in Wake County and the Jacksonville LPP system were damaged by <br />Hurricane Fran due to uprooted trees, which damaged the underground pipes. In Wake County, this <br />necessitated a costly "pump and haul" operation to dispose of wastes pending repair or connection <br />to a municipal system. Four of the damaged systems are scheduled to be connected to either the <br />Raleigh, Fuquay-Varina, or Cary systems. Two of the other six damaged systems are scheduled to <br />be connected to municipal systems through the efforts of the homeowners. Approximately 170 <br />homeowners served by the remaining four damaged systems are still faced with either repairing the <br />systems (amounting to approximately $300,000) or connecting to the Raleigh system (approximate <br />cost $3.5 million). <br /> <br />Given the public health implications of the damaged LPP systems, the extension of permanent sewer <br />lines from the primary systems should be encouraged. However, the provision of infrastructure may <br />encourage additional development, which-in the case of Raleigh, could have an adverse effect on <br />municipal drinking water supplies. Therefore, continued development in the Falls Lake watershed <br /> <br />Page 18 <br />