When you build a new home, local building codes are supposed to ensure that it can handle the hazards of your particular area; however, how rigorous or well enforced the code is, varies widely. Building codes are concerned with basic safety and protecting the people inside the home, said Stacy Williams, public affairs manager for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Protecting the structure itself often requires additional measures, she added. It’s important to note that building codes only come into play if you’re doing new construction or major renovations. For existing older homes, it’s worth doing what you can do to strengthen major points of weakness.
Read the entire article here: Building To Withstand a Natural Disaster