Hurricane Michael

[Gordon_R]

Only one casualty so far: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45818960

One person was killed by a falling tree, Florida officials say.

The storm left nearly 500,000 people without electricity in Florida, Alabama and Georgia, emergency services say.

Michael was so powerful that it remained a hurricane as it moved further inland.

Its rapid intensification caught many by surprise, although the storm later weakened.

 

[Toxxyc]

Hectic.
But there is something I do not understand.
Americans: "Oh there is tornado's and hurricanes that comes through here almost every day, I'm gonna build my house here"

A little bit like South Africans who go "Hey, Polos are like the most hijacked cars in this country. Time to buy one for my wife, time to buy one for my daughter, and I think my mom should also get one!"

 

[rietrot]

Hectic.
But there is something I do not understand.
Americans: "Oh there is tornado's and hurricanes that comes through here almost every day, I'm gonna build my house here"

That's why they build wooden houses. If the hurricane is pass you dry out the wood have a braai and start again.

 

[ArmatageShanks]

That's why they build wooden houses. If the hurricane is pass you dry out the wood have a braai and start again.

Also wood hurts less than bricks when it falls over

 

[HeftyCrab]

Also wood hurts less than bricks when it falls over

Id like to know if a brick structure will survive a storm like that though? Im sure the roof probably wont survive those winds, but surely the structure itself will?

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Id like to know if a brick structure will survive a storm like that though? Im sure the roof probably wont survive those winds, but surely the structure itself will?

I'm not a Engineer but unless I'm mistaken a concrete structure doesn't have sufficient flexibility to withstand bot earthquakes and hurricanes, unless of course they are designed therefore which would make them very complex and expensive.

Have a look at this, just keep a grain of salt handy

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Americans-build-wooden-houses

 

[Gordon_R]

Id like to know if a brick structure will survive a storm like that though? Im sure the roof probably wont survive those winds, but surely the structure itself will?

Edit: Once the roof goes, most structures are worthless. Rain and flying debris will damage all the interior fittings, plaster & paint, etc.

The main point about structures, is that the peak hurricane-force winds cover a relatively narrow swath, and it is unrealistic to have Cat 5 resistance across the whole country. Tropical storm winds (60-115km/h) do cover a wide area, and are unpleasant but nowhere nearly as destructive. Wind force increases as the square of velocity, so 230kmh/h is 4 times as destructive as 115km/h.

Actual wind coverage chart up to 2AM on Thurs 11th, when Michael dropped below hurricane force over southern Georgia:

 

[Ninja'd]

Hurricane Michael

 

[Gordon_R]

Damage reports slowly emerging: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45839343

An insurance firm, Karen Clark & Company, estimated Michael caused about $8bn in damage.

This is what a Cat 4 hurricane does to a beachfront housing development:



https://www.stripes.com/tyndall-afb...her-installations-avoid-major-damage-1.551072

Tyndall Air Force Base sustained “catastrophic’’ damage as Hurricane Michael struck the Florida installation head on, destroying buildings and potentially leaving the post vacant for weeks, Air Force officials said Thursday.

The Category 4 storm, the strongest to ever hit the Florida Panhandle, tore roofing from aircraft hangars and mangled buildings at Tyndall, located just outside Panama City, Fla., according to Air Force officials who reported “widespread catastrophic damage” primarily from winds that exceeded 150 mph.

 

[DMNknight]

There's the 1 South African who built his house out of bricks

 

[Dan C]

Eish Michael did some real damage. That will take a long to to clear up and rebuild.

 

[Gordon_R]

Before and after satellite images, and some closeups of incredible destruction: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45820360

A train in Panama City was flipped onto its side.

Some [brick] buildings were reportedly not built to withstand a storm above category three strength - when Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, it was a category four storm.

 

[Vrotappel]

Flipping a train on its side, hectic.

 

[Luke7777]

Just to complete the thread I started... No damage whatsoever to the house he's staying in . Said it looked like Michael turned around on his doorstep . House next door cushioned the fall of a massive old oak (from *his* neighbour )