Engineers stress-test manufactured homes to improve hurricane survival
At Florida International University’s Wall of Wind, engineers expose manufactured homes to hurricane-strength winds to see which parts fail first. The experiments are meant to identify affordable construction or installation changes that could help millions of people in manufactured housing survive severe storms.
The experiments could inform safer, lower-cost installation and retrofit choices for manufactured housing, potentially reducing storm damage for residents with limited housing options. Because millions live in these homes and many are older, findings may also interest builders, local permitting officials, and insurers as they weigh wind-risk practices. Any societal benefit would depend on how quickly such changes are adopted and whether they remain affordable for the households most exposed to severe storms. Count: The1 experiments2 could3 inform4 safer5, lower-cost6 installation7 and8 retrofit9 choices10 for11 manufactured12 housing13, potentially14 reducing15 storm16 damage17 for18 residents19 with20 limited21 housing22 options23. Because24 millions25 live26 in27 these28 homes29 and30 many31 are32 older33, findings34 may35 also36 interest37 builders38, local39 permitting40 officials41, and42 insurers43 as44 they45 weigh46 wind-risk47 practices48. Any49 societal50 benefit51 would52 d