Page 0: Page 1: FEMA: Mitigation Best PracticesPortfolio Page 1 af2 ffi FEMA Houseof Steel SurvivesCharley Punta Gorda, FL - WhenBob andRobinLeonardbuilt their homein 2004on a canaloff PirateHarbor in CharlotteCountythey wanteda building.Theychosea highly engineered, beautiful,low-maintenance abovecodesteel-panel construction that would endurea major storm. to The structuralsandwichpanelhomewas engineered withstand150 the winds,exceeding current130mph requiredby the mph sustained Florida Building Codes,Whenneighborsrebuilt after HurricaneCharley, numy askedthe Leonardsabouttheir houseof steel.The Leonardsgladly told their story. o''l!'ewere in the northeast quadrantof HurricaneCharley.Winds went to well beyond140mph andthis housedid what it was supposed do; it cameafter the wind pushed only damage swayedr"Leonardsaid.o'The to the front door openandwe nailedwood braces the floor to closeit." package designtheir home. The Leonards useda consumer to software panelmanufacturer for They broughtthe drawingsto their steel-panel prints, andmanufacturing plans,permit specifications. After engineered ttre the city's building department approved plans,Leonardsaid,the eight-monthproject started. as feet fill Three-and-a-half of compacted materialserved the basefor concrete footings.Six-inchsteelI-beam the steel-reinforced reinforced postsanchored reinforcedconcrete footingsheld up the cupolaand to the main frame. Surrounding grorurdfloor, a gradebeamaddedstability to the building asit swayedwhenpushedby winds. of consisted a lightweight foam The structuralsandwiclipanelassembly two relatively thin metal facings.The core securelylaminatedbetween polystyreneboardto the manufacfurer bondeda pre-formedexpanded metal skinswith adhesive. Composing outer structure, designspecifiedtop andbottom the the channels anchored that six-inch thick structuralsandwichpanelsto had them and createwalls. Thesechannels platesthat connected layered roof system's I-beamrafters.The floor system supported the by nine-inchstructuralpanelssupported I-beams,toppedwith sub-floor gov/mitigationbp/brief. 8 hup:/lwww.fema. do?mitssld:3 I 6 4/2t2009 Page 2: Portfolio FEMA: Mitigation BestPractices Page2 of? andfinishedwith hardwoodflooring. homeboastsits height asan additionalstrength. The Leonard's adopted the city requiredbuildingthe lowest by Floodplainregulations (BFE), floor of the houseon or abovethe 1l-foot baseflood elevation that but the houseexceeds requirement. Charley,the Leonards Sincethey lost powerasa resultof Hurricane generator. keepintense wind from opening To a added propane-fueled the front door, they boughtshutteringto coverthe outsideandbracing for insidethe door. gov/mitigationbp/brief. ?mitssl 886 d:3 do http://www.ferna. 41212009 Page 3: