Windstorm Research Needs to Continue, Disaster Safety Group Testifies

3/24/2004

From: Charlie Reese of the Institute for Business & Home Safety, 813-675-1047 or creese@ibhs.org

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Continued research into the various effects of windstorms is needed to help form a foundation for protecting this country's citizens, property and economy from these often disastrous events.

That was the message delivered today to two Congressional subcommittees by a representative of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) on The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (H.R. 3980). The legislation would establish an interagency group to improve the understanding of windstorms and their effects, and develop and encourage measures to protect against them.

In testimony prepared for a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Research and the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards of the Committee on Science of the U.S. House of Representatives, IBHS Director of Engineering Jeffrey Sciaudone explained that reducing the impact of windstorms helps protect homes and families, keeps businesses open and preserves jobs. While much is known now, research needs to continue, he said.

"Windstorms and other natural disasters happen every year in the United States, and affect thousands of homeowners and businesses," said Sciaudone. "Much is currently known about how to mitigate these losses and, fortunately, we are learning more every day. While there will always be an element of chance in where and how badly a windstorm strikes, we in this country increasingly have the choice to be better prepared against these events," he said.

"Buildings that survive windstorms unscathed are a benefit to the communities in which they stand," Sciaudone continued. "People stay in their homes, businesses remain open and people continue to go about their lives with minimal disruption. Disaster resistant communities are also likely to not be victims, and will require little, if any, government assistance to recover from a disaster."

IBHS, headquartered in Tampa, FL, is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.