HURRICANE PROOF BUILDINGS

Wood is an amazing building material. A properly designed wooden
structure
will stand up to a hurricane just as well as a properly designed concrete
structure.

Do you think they know the code varies by county?
...........
In 1994, Broward and Miami-Dade counties adopted the nation's toughest
wind-speed codes, forcing new construction to withstand gusts up to
150 mph. It took another seven years of negotiations with building
industry lobbyists to enact a somewhat watered-down version with
significant upgrades largely confined to coastal areas.

Building industry leaders argued for less regulation for several
reasons -- primarily risk and expense.

Along most of the coast, including Charlotte and Lee counties, the new
code calls for 130-mph protection, the strength of a Category 3. It's
10 mph less in neighboring DeSoto County, home to Arcadia, and another
10 mph less in Orlando. Charley exploded on the coast like a 145-mph
bomb.
.......

If your house was designed for 100 mph and you get 145 mph, I don't
think concrete or wood will make a big difference.

Betsy ( in Apollo Beach with 70 % of windows still covered by
shutters)