Despite what criticism it may get the issue of living right up on the beach etc in areas prone to hurricanes has to be examined
It will only get worse with passing time if they keep building and expanding in these areas
That goes for all the FL coasts then too.
I agree (and I live in an oceanfront condo). What worries me about Florida is that Miami-Dade and Broward counties are the only counties in FL with strengthened post-Hurricane Andrew building codes, and those codes (for glass doors, etc.,) are for 135 mph winds (Cat 3 storm). As for the rest of the states, I don't think any of them have adopted Dade/Broward codes, so the Gulf/SE is a disaster waiting to happen.
I'm beginning to think we need a national building code for coastal 'hurricane' areas that can handle Cat 4. That means lowrise, circular homes that can disperse winds, wind- resistant (bulletproof?) glass, home electrical generators, etc.
New construction will become expensive, but over time, say 40 years, lives and property will be saved. I doubt the US has authority (except, of course, as a condition of federal aid) to impose this, but the Gulf/SE states should collaborate in drafting a model building code for their coastal areas.