Hurricane Wind Shelter Retrofit Room Standards For Existing Houses

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a design and construction technique for an in-home Retrofit Room hurricane shelter, which is an alternative to the FEMA tornado Safe Room. Such a room will be able to withstand hurricane wind speeds up to 225 km/h (140 mph) and windborne debris. This study developed design and construction techniques for a more economic Retrofit Room. The retrofitting is achieved through reinforcing existing walls and roof of typical small interior rooms with plywood sheets, steel plate anchor bolts and hurricane straps. The in-house shelter will offer significant occupant protection and reduce the demand on public shelters in the event of a Category 4 hurricane or an F2 level tornado. The average material and labor cost of a hurricane Retrofit Room is about $3,100, almost half of the typical cost for a FEMA Safe Room.