Extreme weather has become the new normal. The year 2021 had 18 weather disasters — floods, hurricanes, tornadoes — costing more than $1 billion each so far. Also, a recent study from the University of Copenhagen concluded that the most destructive hurricanes on the North American southeast coast are three times more frequent than they were a century ago.

In this climate, it's more important than ever for home builders to incorporate resilient features into every project. A good place to start is to follow recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The organization's FORTIFIED Home program helps make houses less vulnerable to storms. State Farm Insurance concluded that, in a given storm, homes built to the FORTIFIED standard suffered half the dollar losses of a conventional house.

The LEED standard from the U.S. Green Building Council also introduced three pilot credits for Resilient Design. The program now includes points for designing to mitigate climate vulnerabilities, adding risk resilience measures, and a backup energy system for post-disaster blackouts.

Resilient strategies work

Homes built according to standards such as the International Residential Code (IRC) are better able to withstand severe storms, such as hurricanes. A study by Texas A&M University found that newer homes built to this code fared better than older homes in hurricane-force winds. During storms in Texas and Florida, IRC structural provisions helped maintain the integrity of the roof framing and sheathing, as well as minimize wall structure and sheathing damage.

Additional best-practices for resilient construction include:

• Build flood elevation at least three feet above the base value.
• Install hurricane-certified windows and wind- and impact-resistant shingles.
• Make sure structural systems can withstand wave action.
• Insulate above code requirements. Walls should also protect against wetting and have an airspace to allow for drying.
• Provide natural ventilation whenever possible.
• Use continuous blocking for all flashing, as well as water-resistant interior finish.
• Enhance perimeter and corner attachment of membrane roofs.
• Secure any rooftop equipment directly to the structural steel frame of the roof deck.
• Build masonry walls with steel reinforcements.

Proper implementation of these features is critical to making homes truly resilient.

Gas, the natural choice for backup power

Reliable backup power is another important key in creating more resilient homes. Standby generators fueled by natural gas can offer homebuyers 24/7 protection from storms and other events that cause power outages.

Gas generators are highly reliable, cost less to operate than gasoline generators (which require constant refueling), produce less emissions and are also more convenient. Installing gas generators gives you a distinct marketing advantage by providing additional value and peace of mind to homebuyers concerned about the risks and costs associated with power outages.

For more information and resources, see the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, as well as these tips from Ecohome.