Hurricanes

[mikey4444]

Just heard people being interviewed in Florida, on the radio.

One thing I don't really understand is this.

Florida was described as the "Gateway to Hurricanes" So why, after so many hurricanes, do Americans continue to re-build there homes and businesses of such flimsy materials ?

5.5 million have been told to leave their homes, 100,000 of people are now getting settled into hurricane-proof shelters, where they should be safe. But all the buildings around them will be completely destroyed.

So why don't people build their homes of concrete, rather than flimsy wood and tar-paper ?

[murraymints]

agree..same in California..fire rips through glorified wooden sheds annually..

[RATTER15]

I agree Mikey, I often wonder why these people also build large luxury wooden houses on the side of a mountain where they have fires every few years, surely they can never get insurance!!

All a bit mad to me

[RATTER15]

You beat me to it minty!!

[mikey4444]

Add the fact, that hurricane insurance must be prohibitively expensive and/or non-existent, how do these millions of people get back to normal after their homes and belongings are destroyed ?

[Old_Geezer]

California is by as fault line so maybe they think it better not to have heavy buildings ? Unsure about Florida though.

[Old_Geezer]

... A fault ...
>>>>>:-(

[murraymints]

Japan manages quake proof building by and large now..yanks don't seem to think long term.I have friends who regulrly extend their home..essentially a DIY job with timbers and fabricated sheets...

[Peter Pedant]

does living in the land of the free
mean less regulation ?
well yes if you are Donald Trump and no if you are any one else

http://www.ladbs.org/services/core-services/plan-check-permit/plan-check-permit-special-assistance/mandatory-retrofit-programs

after the california earthquake there was a retro-fit program
which may be compulsory....

[ludwig]

// Add the fact, that hurricane insurance must be prohibitively expensive and/or non-existent, how do these millions of people get back to normal after their homes and belongings are destroyed ? //

It is strange. I've just been looking at something on the BBC news website that says only 34% of houses in Florida flood hazard zones are insured. See here..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-41205722/irma-v-andrew-why-this-hurricane-could-be-worse-for-florida

[mikey4444]

Yes Ludwig....I saw this earlier today. We must presume that the cost of insurance is a major factor.

So what are these millions of people going to do when their homes are destroyed this weekend ?

If my house was completely destroyed in a storm, and I didn't have insurance, than that would mean I would be immediately homeless and penniless.

Who want a bet that most of these homes that are rebuilt over the next few months and years, are built to the same poor standard, and with the same inappropriate materials as they always have been ?

[murraymints]

Mikey..my shed is very comfy..wifi and minifridge ! lol xx

[mikey4444]

I will bear that in mind Minty !

[murraymints]

bring broon !

[Peter Pedant]

in the UK once your house is flooded
it is difficult to get further insurance

when Towyn was flooded 60% were uninsured ( seems low to me)
and they just closed the doors to their flooded houses and took the train to Manchester (and stayed there)

went to the funeral of one of them a few months ago
and the eulogy described his life's work of the house in Towyn
( no audience participation from me "and it all ended in tears"

[Peter Pedant]

// Mikey..my shed is very comfy..wifi and minifridge ! lol xx//

dog supplied as a bed warmer ?

[EDDIE51]

The houses are cheap to build and cheap to rebuild. You can't insure against something that is certain to happen, and in the 'Hurricane Zone' hurricanes are certain. Most places have no insurance and just rebuild as cheaply as possible once they get demolished.
Also I don't think the USA has the nationwide building structural regulations that we take for granted in the UK. 'Land of the Free' also means free to build whatever you want free of regulation.

[murraymints]

PP this is a pussy cat home..I am sure that big fluffy and very cuddly Wonky will oblige !! lol

[EDDIE51]

In another example I came across on the US site Quora , Americans just can't understand why we allow the government to dictate that we must use seat belts when driving. They want to be free to decide for themselves. Which means literally thousands of them are unnecessarily killed and injured in road accidents every year.

[Cloverjo]

They probably don't understand why we're not allowed to carry guns. ..??

[ABerrant]

"In another example... Americans just can't understand why we allow the government to dictate that we must use seat belts when driving. They want to be free to decide for themselves."

By 'Americans' you must mean citizens of New Hampshire.

49 of the 50 States (plus DC) enforce seat belt legislation for adults. Only New Hampshire does not, although minors are legislated for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_belt_laws_in_the_United_States