Are High Rise Apartments Safe In Hurricanes? Facts Plus My Experience

Are High Rise Apartments Safe In Hurricanes? Facts Plus My Experience

We’ve all seen the damage a hurricane can inflict. A ‘major’ category hurricane brings with it wind speed in excess of 111 miles per hour, which knock down trees and inflict significant damage to framed structures (i.e. residential homes). Riding out a hurricane is a scary experience no matter what kind of home you live in. What about in really tall buildings? Are high rise apartments safe in hurricanes? Do the residents need to evacuate or do they hunker down in place? In this article, I’ll cover a few facts and outline my own experience in doing so!

Buildings Are Designed With A ‘Factor of Safety’

When we discuss high rise apartment safety during a hurricane, the word ‘safety’ can really mean a few things.

To start, I’ll cover what I assume is everyone’s burning question (mine too): will a high rise apartment building be damaged or destroyed during a hurricane?

The answer, truthfully, is ‘it’s possible, but highly unlikely‘.

High rise buildings are designed with a large factor of safety. Engineers determine how strong a building must be in order to withstand every condition (forces, weather) it’ll be exposed to. In the case of hurricane-prone areas, this means wind force.

Once that’s determined, the building is designed to withstand more than that. If it’s designed to withstand double the wind force expected, the factor of safety used to design the building is ‘two’.

Before a factor of safety is even applied, the building is designed to withstand the maximum force or weather conditions expected. The forces used in these calculations are equal to those of a 100 year storm – that is, the type of storm that comes only once every 100 years.

The criteria used in design varies by region and is often determined on a state building code level (here in the U.S.). For instance, the Florida Building Code has gotten a huge overhaul in the last decade. This includes noting certain counties as ‘High Velocity Hurricane Zones’ and increasing the design standard for hurricane-resistant buildings.

In short, high rise apartment buildings are constructed to withstand storms with an intensity that we’ll likely never experience. That said…

If Told To Evacuate, Take Heed & Do So!

Thankfully, we’ve got experts who monitor weather patterns 24/7. This includes meteorologists watching the ‘horizon’ (radar and data) for huge storms and hurricanes.

These experts will know better than anyone else what the expected weather is going to be, including wind speeds (both maximum and sustained), rain patterns, changes in pressure, etc. They’ll be the first to know if anything dangerous is coming.




PROMOTION

LINK OPENS IN NEW TAB




Knowing this, it’s important to actually listen to what the experts say. Even if high rise apartments are safe on a structural level, there are still other potential hazards like broken windows, falling (should one go on a balcony, etc.), flying debris and who knows what else.

Regardless of the exact concerns, we should listen to the experts. If they order an evacuation of a high rise building, definitely evacuate as quickly as possible!

Read Next: Do Windows In High Rise Apartments Open? Here’s What Ours Has

Blackout In Manhattan After Superstorm Sandy In 2012
Blackout South Of Midtown Manhattan In The Wake Of Superstorm Sandy

My Experience Living In A NYC High Rise During Hurricane Sandy

Only two months after moving to NYC, superstorm Sandy hit. Here’s what our experience was like living on the 8th floor.

We were ultimately fine. There were extremely high winds that were loud and scary at the time. There was some damage to the facade of the building like missing bricks. We didn’t leave the building during the entire storm.

Around us was another story. There was extensive flooding, power outages, shut down subways/tunnels and havoc along coastal areas. I still remember standing in line for hours to get gas, because no gas deliveries could be made for several days.

That said, I am not aware of any residential high rise buildings that were evacuated or significantly damaged during Sandy. If anything, the evacuations in New York happened in low-lying areas that were at risk of flooding.

High rise buildings have back up generators. These generators keep the elevators, lighting and some wall outlets powered. That said, they can run out of fuel or get flooded.

Under extremely or unlucky circumstances, power can go out completely. No refrigerator, lighting, power for CPAP/similar machines or elevators. If an outage lasts for an extended time like outages in Manhattan after Sandy, the building is not safe for some to live in.

When considering if high rise apartments are safe during a hurricane, it’s important to think of these factors too.

Read Next: Using A Generator In An Apartment: Which Types To Go For [And Avoid]

Is Being In A Tall Building Scary During A Storm?

It definitely can be. Living a few dozen floors up in a high rise is definitely unsettling during high winds.

The noise from the wind can be described as a loud howl or a hiss. We can hear groaning and deep rumbling coming up through the stairwell behind a shared wall. Windows creak and settle.

Unless it’s made of steel or weighed down, nothing can be out on the balcony. At one point we had a couch stored on the balcony with a cover over it. This was fine until a particularly windy day came along and nearly carried the couch away. We don’t do that anymore.

Ultimately though, nothing bad has actually happened!


So, Are High Rise Apartments Safe In Hurricanes?

While we cannot guarantee it, high rise apartment buildings are generally safe during hurricanes. That said, it’s essential that we stay aware of the weather, listen to what the experts and building management say and know that ‘safe’ has more than one meaning. Thanks for reading!

Popular Pages

“LIVING IN A HIGH RISE” IS SUPPORTED THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL AFFILIATE PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM – AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE, WE EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION WHEN WE PROMOTE OTHER OFFERS FROM CLICKBANK, CJ, ASCEND & AD AGENCIES.  THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, WE COLLECT FEES WHEN WE LINK TO PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND AFFILIATED WEBSITES. THE PRICE YOU PAY DOES NOT CHANGE IF BOUGHT THROUGH A LINK ON THIS WEBSITE. ALL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES RECOMMENDED WILL BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CONTENT ON WHICH THIS SITE IS BASED. 

Picture of Patrick
Patrick

Hi! I'm Patrick. Although I grew up in a small New England town, I've been residing in or near big cities for the past decade. As someone who has lived in four mid-to-high rise buildings over the years, I feel compelled to share my experiences of living the literal 'high life' with anyone that either wants to live in a high rise or who's settling in to their new place. Welcome to my website!

Love This Article? Share It!

4 replies on “Are High Rise Apartments Safe In Hurricanes? Facts Plus My Experience”

Hello Bob, good question. I’m not entirely sure as we’ve only ever rented apartments – I’m curious about what owners of high rise apartments have to say!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *