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Let's Talk About the Bahamas

jar546

Forum Coordinator
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
10,975
Location
Somewhere Too Hot & Humid
As we all saw on the news, the affected islands on the Bahamas have been decimated. You can't even get to the Bahama government's website on building codes.

bahamas aftermath.jpg

As you can see, when you have substandard building codes, codes that aren't enforced or no building codes, it can be decimating. Yes this was a category 5 hurricane, and yes, it parked itself for 2 days, but there were some houses that were built to a standard that survived. The importance of flood maps, identifying tidal surges, and coastal construction methods cannot be ignored.

The big issue for implementation of any new building codes is always cost. When you look at the picture above, I think you see the actual cost of a nation when you have inadequate or no standards at all. The people of the Bahamas need to rebuild using a better standard, otherwise this will continue to happen all over again.

Share your thoughts please.
 
And then when you implement that standard, you need proper education and enforcement. As with any construction "boom" usually the inspectors will not be able to catch up and then you are back in the same vicious circle...
 
And then when you implement that standard, you need proper education and enforcement. As with any construction "boom" usually the inspectors will not be able to catch up and then you are back in the same vicious circle...

Oh I agree. Between the availability of the proper materials, contractor, design professional and inspector education, it's going to be an uphill battle.
 
It would be interesting to see a short survey Of houses/ buildings that survived.

1. What year were they built

2. What were they built out of

3. On foundation, if so what kind or on stilts.
 
Can/will any of the materials be salvaged for reuse? If not, where will it all go?
Justification for CMU or steel framing?
 
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