Lessons learned from hurricane emily

The 1987 hurricane season was a minimal hurricane season for the U.S. Even with the inactivity of that particular year, people and property in hurricane-prone areas of the U.S. are still vulnerable to hurricane hazards. Notwithstanding the minimal effects of 1987 hurricanes, and further emphasized by the two major hurricanes of the 1988 season, potential dangers to the U.S. remain very high. Hurricane Emily, that struck Bermuda in September 1987, is an example of the damage that can be visited on coastal areas of the U.S. in those areas not prepared for hurricanes, and that do not follow strong and properly-enforced hurricane-resistant building codes. Emily, even though diminished to a Category 1 Hurricane, with sustained winds of only 86 miles per hour, caused at least 35 million dollars damage to structures in Bermuda, including many architect or engineer-designed structures at the U.S. Naval Base, and at other locations in Bermuda. Some of the hurricane resistant building codes now in force in Florida are considered in this paper, in light of the damage caused by Hurricane Emily and also by the Category 4 and 5 hurricanes of the 1988 season.