File:Coast watch (1979) (20473479249).jpg

Title: Coast watch
Identifier: coastwatch00uncs_11 (find matches)
Year: 1979 (1970s)
Authors: UNC Sea Grant College Program
Subjects: Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology
Publisher: (Raleigh, N. C. : UNC Sea Grant College Program)
Contributing Library: State Library of North Carolina
Digitizing Sponsor: North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

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Spencer Rogers At Right: Hurricane straps secure construc- tion, but this kind is vulnerable to corrosion on oceanfront homes. Water and wind destruction from seven major hurricanes that hit the state in the 1950s brought about important changes in the North Carolina building code. "In the 1960s, the building code called for structures that were elevated on pilings at least 8 feet in the ground," Rogers says. "Prior to that, the houses were built on the ground, very susceptible to wave and erosion damage. The code helped change the public perception of a beach house in North Carolina to one on pilings with parking underneath." This design became popular even in areas where pilings were not required. "Because of that shift in building — far beyond the limited application of regula- tions — damage in Hurricane Fran was much lower than it would have been earlier," Rogers adds. The keys to hurricane-resistant construction are measures to resist erosion, flooding waves and wind, Rogers says. The foundation should be deep enough in the ground so that it's not undercut by erosion. It should also be high enough to withstand waves and flooding. The building should be tied together with good connections (nails, bolts, straps) from top to bottom to resist high winds. Good roofing pays off in hurricanes, and window protection (storm shutters) prevents shattering. Coastal builders are now implement- ing these measures and more. At Waterfronte Villas and Yacht Club, a 35-unit condominium complex under construction at Carolina Beach, safety features and aesthetic appeal are of prime
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importance, says project manager Tom Cunningham. Glass windows and doors used in the buildings are now designed to withstand higher wind speeds. Anchor bolts attaching the building to the footing were increased in size and number, and special attention was paid to the attachment of the roof and the sheathing to the building. The larger, heavier metal clips enable the trusses to support more weight and hold the roof better. "The rules are more stringent now," Cunningham says. These rules can give buyers confi- dence that their new waterfront homes have the latest hurricane-resistant features. And as demand grows for homes with a view of the water, it's important that safety features evolve with the latest research about building to survive storms unique to the coast. The attraction of the coast remains undiminished by the grim realities of recent hurricanes. But it's important to remember that beach replenishment, building regulations, rising insurance costs and the constant danger of erosion, flooding and storm damage are problems not limited to coastal residents. These concerns and the astronomical costs of federal and state disaster aid are issues that affect everyone. □ Brooks Preik is a real estate agent in Wilmington. I n late 1997, nearly 500 real estate agents and developers learned about building, marketing and selling coastal property through a series of workshops sponsored by North Carolina Sea Grant, the N.C. Division of Coastal Management and the N. C. Real Estate Commission. A free brochure, Questions and Answers on Purchasing Coastal Real Estate in North Carolina, is available from Sea Grant at 919/515-9101 or the Real Estate Commission at 919/733-9580. The Division of Coastal Management offers Where to Find Out, a guide for real estate agents whose clients have questions about coastal property. Call 919/733-2293 for a free copy. COASTWATCH 19

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