Hurricane Katrina results in stronger products

Words: Monica AltieriSeptember marked 10 years since Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history, battered the Gulf Coast. The lessons learned from this storm have led to significant efforts to rebuild stronger homes and buildings that are more resilient to flooding and high winds.

New building codes and flood elevation maps adopted in the past decade have changed construction practices in the region, most notably requiring structures to be built at a higher elevation on wood pilings or tall masonry piers. In response to the changing building requirements, new products and resources have been developed to protect against future hurricanes.

“We sent a team of four engineers to the region immediately after the disaster to see the damage firsthand and study how the homes and buildings fared,” said Randy Shackelford, R&D Engineer and Code Specialist at the Simpson Strong-Tie. “Afterward, we developed a high wind framing guide and offered lots of training sessions in the Gulf region on how to build safer, strong structures. With requirements for homes and buildings to be constructed on raised foundations, we developed new products to make it easier and more economical for builders to meet these requirements.”

Simpson Strong-Tie designed and engineered the CCQM embedded column cap for use in raised pier foundations to make the connection from the wood beams to masonry. The new Strong-Drive® SDWH Timber-Hex HDG screw also makes connecting beams to wood pilings easier and more effective. The screw replaces bolts, washers and nuts in pilings, piers, boardwalks, and docks, requires no pre-drilling, and resists severe corrosion levels in heavy-duty marine and coastal applications.

In addition to offering training on uplift and lateral wind-resistant construction, Simpson Strong-Tie developed several resources specifically for building professionals and homeowners in hurricane-prone regions. The Flood Resistant Construction Guide and the

High Wind-Resistant Construction Catalog

provide information on how to build safer, storm-resilient structures. Lessons Learned from Katrina documents local homeowners’ experiences on video and sheds light on the widespread damage caused by the hurricane while showcasing the importance of a continuous load path and high wind-resistant construction. Other materials include 5 Steps to a Safer and Stronger Home for homeowners.

For more information about hurricane and high wind-resistant construction, visit www.strongtie.com/highwind.
Restoring Structural Integrity: Reinforcement in Masonry Buildings
August 2026

Masonry, as most of us in the trade know and appreciate, remains one of the most durable and time-tested structural systems in the built environment. Structures built throughout Europe and other parts of the world demonstrate that a masonry building is mo

Kate Vienna
Technical Talks
Brick Historic Restoration Repair & Restoration Restoration
Read More
Designing High-Performance Masonry Envelopes: Selecting the Right Air Barrier System
August 2026

Aric Hutchinson
Technical Talks
Air Barriers
Read More
Beyond the Block: Aesthetic Innovations in CMU Construction
August 2026

Concrete masonry units (CMUs) have long been a mainstay of construction. They are well known as a “tried and true” material with a long history of high-strength structural performance, affordability, ease of assembly, and a long lifecycle. CMU constructio

Peter Roberts
Technical Talks
Block
Read More
The Most Overlooked Profit Center on Your Job Site
August 2026

The real cost of equipment ownership isn't what you pay on day one. It's what happens over the years that follow. The purchase price of a new mortar mixer, grout pump, material handling system, or masonry saw is only part of the investment. What happens

Steve Wheeler
MAP Partner
Read More