In addition to destroying property and disrupting people’s lives, Hurricane Katrina put several small newspapers in southern Louisiana out of commission. Three of them combined their remaining resources to form The St. Tammany News, which now serves the communities north of Lake Pontchartrain. In its April 3rd, 2006 edition the News recounted the story of a Kodiak Steel Homes customer whose steel home and garage not only survived winds up to 185 mph, but withstood 90-foot pine trees crashing onto their roofs.
Weathering the Storms
Over the years, we have learned of numerous Kodiak Steel Homes® models withstanding extraordinary stresses. For example, during the California wildfires of 2004, one of our homes emerged virtually undamaged from a blaze that destroyed several surrounding buildings. Tornadoes have hit many of our homes, and none we know of suffered structural damage. Indeed, we have never received a report of a Kodiak Steel Homes model being seriously damaged by any natural disaster. We cannot promise that none ever will, but we can assure you that the strength and structural integrity of our steel-framed homes will push the odds in your favor. Below, we offer two examples of Kodiak Steel Homes customers who weathered hurricanes. We have extensive documentation on these incidents, and the homeowners have even offered to let us use their names although we have chosen to protect their privacy.
Hurricane Irene in Mount Holly, Virginia
Kathy and Pete C. found themselves facing an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene, here is what they had to say:
Kodiak Steel Homes,
Thank you! Thank you! We just had a very large Pine Tree fall on
our house during Hurricane Irene. We watched the tree come down and
just heard a thud that did not sound that loud. We went to the utility
room and there was no damage at all in the house not even a crack in the
drywall. We opened the door expecting to see the tree on the ground
missing our house and was shocked to see it on our roof. It was like a
pine forest at the door. We had to go out the front door in the storm
to see the roof area where it landed and was shocked at what we saw.
We then checked the attic and was surprised and how little damage we could see in the attic. With all the rain we did get some water, but it ran down the AC Vent over the washer and we were able to catch all of it in a tub so no water damage inside the house. I am sure we will find some wet insulation in the attic, but that can easily be dealt with. We just can not imagine what we would be facing if this was a stick built house. We feel like we would have lost the complete back corner of the house plus all the water damage. Thank you! By the way we had the earthquake on Tuesday and the floor shook and the roof rumbled, but the walls did not move and pictures did not come down. We are very impressed with our house!
Hurricane Katrina in Abita Springs, Louisiana
Kodiak Steel Homes customer George S. had only finished his steel-framed home and detached garage a few months before Hurricane Katrina roared through his Abita Springs neighborhood on September 5, 2005. Located nine miles north of Lake Ponchartrain, just about 19 miles west of the estimated path of Katrina’s eye, George’s house and garage were pounded by sustained winds of 146 mph with gusts up to 185 mph. These devastating blasts flattened most of the pine grove surrounding George’s property, snapping 85-foot tall trees like matchsticks. Six of these falling trees smashed into George’s steel garage. Part of George’s handwritten description follows:
George’s garage suffered some damage. The falling trees crumpled several steel roof panels and bent some of the underlying framing, and George’s insurance is paying to replace this material; however, the structure did not fail, the garage did not collapse, and the trees did not penetrate the building envelope. In other words, had people been inside this Kodiak Steel Homes garage model when the six trees hit, the steel frame would have protected them from harm. Fortunately, George’s house was not hit by any trees, only the 185 mph winds. Even so, George’s Kodiak Steel Homes Augusta model suffered no real damage at all. Again, we cannot promise that any Kodiak Steel Homes model can survive any storm that comes along, but George S. is sure glad he lives in one.
George’s story was featured in the April 3, 2006 edition of the St. Tammany News
Hurricane Charlie in Punta Gorda, Florida
Helmut E. and his wife were out of town when Hurricane Charlie struck their Kodiak Steel Homes model just outside Punta Gorda on August 13, 2004. Charlie destroyed more than 11,000 homes in the area, including the house Helmut’s son lived in a few miles away. Fortunately, the son had taken Helmut’s advice and brought his wife and a few friends to Helmut’s steel-framed home to ride out the storm. They made it safe and sound as Helmut’s steel-framed home suffered no significant damage from the 150 mph-plus winds. Our media section contains a video interview with Helmut and his wife, who take Kodiak Steel Homes president, John House, on a tour of the total devastation that surrounds their home.
Hurricane Ike on the Louisiana / Texas border
Brent and Barbara M. evacuated the Gulf coast ahead of Hurricane Ike
in mid-September 2008. When they returned, they were thrilled to find
that their new Windmaster Palm Beach had sustained no structural damage.
Some of their neighbors were not so fortunate. The 85 mph wind gusts
damaged many nearby roofs, some severely. Thanks to their high-windload
Kodiak Steel Homes model, Brent and Barbara stayed high and dry.
