In this episode, FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman Henderson discusses the importance of wind science and building resilience with Dr. Tanya Brown-Giammanco and Dr. Marc Levitan from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They explore personal journeys into wind science, the evolution of tornado safety design, and the differences between tornadoes and hurricanes. The conversation highlights the vulnerabilities in home structures, particularly roofs and garage doors, and emphasizes the need for updated building codes and community involvement in safety measures. Learn things you may not know with these two engaging national experts as they dispel tornado myths and share practical steps for homeowners.

Discussion Topics

• Personal Journeys into Wind Science (1:04)
• Understanding Tornado Safety and Dual-Objective-Based Tornado Design Philosophy (3:53)
• Differences Between Tornadoes and Hurricanes (8:50)
• Assessing Building Performance After Wind Events (11:42)
• Vulnerabilities in Home Structures in Regard to High Winds (16:08)
• Surprising Findings in Wind Engineering (23:03)
• Future Directions for Garage Door Safety (27:33)
• Elevating Garage Door Performance through Rating (30:15)
• Advancing Building Codes via Community Engagement (30:53)

Resources

• ⁠Tornado-Strong.org
• National Institute of Standards and Technology

1. Understanding Building Codes and Standards
2. Disaster and Failure Studies Program
3. New Tornado Resistant Building Codes
4. FEMA/NIST Fact Sheet - Improving Windstorm and Tornado Resilience: Recommendations for One- and Two-Family Residential Structures⁠

• New Strong Homes Scale - InspectToProtect.org
• The Enhanced Fujita Scale
• Checklist - Strengthen Your Garage Door
• Checklist - Strengthen Your Roof
• Checklist - Strengthen Your Gutters
• Checklist - Sealed Roof Decks

Connect

• Dr. Tanya Brown-Giammanco
• Leslie Chapman-Henderson
• Dr. Marc Levitan

In this episode of Strong Home Safe Families, host LeslieChapman-Henderson speaks with Dr. Michael Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, about the upcoming hurricane season and the importance of preparedness.

They discuss the evolution of weather communication, the challenges of forecasting storm surge, and the significance of knowing evacuation zones. The conversation emphasizes the need for reliable information sources and the unpredictability of hurricanes, highlighting lessons learned from past storms like Hurricane Ian, Helene, Milton, and more. The episode concludes with a lightning round of meteorology basics, providing valuable insights for listeners, especially those new to the hurricane topic.

Topics

• Origins - Dr. Michael Brennan's Journey in Meteorology (0:55)
• Evolution of Multi-platform Weather Communication (2:25)
• Navigating Competing Information Sources During Hurricanes (4:13)
• Understanding #HurricaneStrong – Start with “Know Your Zone (7:48)
• Challenges of Forecasting Storm Surge and messaging (11:08)
• Messaging for the Expected and Unexpected in Weather Events (15:54)
• Lessons from the Catastrophic Losses in Hurricane Helene (23:00)
• Lightning Round: Meteorology Basics (29:47)

Resources

• www.noaa.gov
• #HurricaneStrong
• Know Your Evacuation Zone

• Emergency Board Up

Connect With Us

• Dr.Michael Brennan
• Leslie Chapman-Henderson

In this episode of the Strong Homes, Safe Families! podcast, host Leslie Chapman-Henderson speaks with Alister Watt, Chief Product Officer at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). They discuss the urgent need for wildfire preparedness, especially in light of recent devastating wildfires in California.

The conversation covers the Wildfire Prepared Home program, which helps homeowners protect their family and strengthen their property against wildfires. Alister shares insights on the importance of understanding the fire triangle (fuel, heat, and oxygen), the significance of community efforts in wildfire mitigation, and the need for resilient rebuilding practices. The episode emphasizes the role of embers in wildfire spread and the necessity of a systems approach to ensure that individual efforts do not leave weak links in the chain of safety.

The discussion concludes with a message of hope and the importance of ongoing education and collaboration in wildfire safety.

Topics

• Intro/ Educational background (1:23)
• What is the Wildfire Prepared Home Program (4:43)
• California Wildfires /What recently happened in California (9:42)
• Understanding the fire triangle (fuel, heat, oxygen) is crucial for wildfire safety. (13:33)
• The dangers of ember and the importance to the zero to five zone (16:03)
• How rebuilding resiliently and incorporating modern building codes for better protection. (22:45)
• Cost-effective measures to reduce wildfire risks. (27:57)
• Why your neighbor is so important when surviving wildfire (31:59)
• Wildfire-Resilient Neighborhood announcement (38:06)
• There is hope in the evolving science of wildfire safety. (41:18)

Links and Resources

• Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
• Wildfire Prepared Home
• KB Home Introduces Wildfire-Resilient Neighborhood

Connect With Us

• Alister Watts
• Leslie Chapman-Henderson

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

Toll-free: 877-221-SAFE(877-221-7233)

Email: info@flash.org