letter from the editor

Lessons Learned

Experience is the best teacher, and what we’ve been through the last two years should teach us lessons we’d be better off never to forget.
1. Along the coast, the greatest threat to life and property is water—specifically, a hurricane storm surge. Last year, Gulfport and Biloxi, MS, took the full impact of Hurricane Katrina’s force and were leveled. Yet, we’ll never forget the images, impact and controversy from the flooded streets of New Orleans, LA. The combination of a 20-plus-foot storm surge and destroyed levees covered much of the city under several feet of water that took weeks to pump out. The city and its residents still reel from the effects.

2. Preparation and mitigation must take place at all levels. Homeowners, business owners and the building industry have gotten the idea. They are building better, stronger and safer. They are fortifying and shuttering their homes and workplaces to protect their families and property. What they can’t protect are the power supply, local water systems and telephone service provided in their communities. Without these vital services residents are left stranded at home. Certainly it’s a small price to pay considering what could happen, but maybe now local constituencies will urge community leaders to be as prepared as they are at home.

3. Stricter building codes work. It has become a universally accepted fact that homes built in Florida under the state’s new building code weathered the hurricanes of the past two seasons much better with far less damage than older homes. Florida leads the nation in its protection of lives and coastal properties, and particularly in the areas of high wind and wind-borne debris protection. Developing, modifying and adopting these codes is a long, hard and often complicated task. Many viewpoints must be considered. Much data must be analyzed. Many interests are at stake. But the final outcome is a safer citizenry.

Other states have taken notice, too. In a special session the Louisiana legislature approved adoption of the International Code Council’s International Codes. As Louisiana rebuilds it will rebuild stronger and safer.