Houses intact after Hurricane Michael were often saved by low-cost reinforcements
The houses still standing in the storm-ravaged neighborhoods of Florida’s Panhandle are conspicuous for their presence. Sticking up from the rubble like one remaining tooth in a jawful of decay, each one is a haunting reminder of what used to exist around it.
In many cases, they were saved by additional strategically placed nails, some small metal connectors and window shutters that created a sealed package — low-cost reinforcements that determined whose home survived and whose was destroyed by the power of Hurricane Michael.
There are the five Habitat for Humanity houses in Panama City, a waterfront vacation home in Mexico Beach, a house built by a homeowner and a few of his church friends — modest structures that lost shingles and suffered water damage but stand largely untouched overlooking the wreckage of buildings that were shredded and ripped from their foundations.
“Often the difference between a roof that stays on and one that flies off is the connection method,” Chapman-Henderson said. “A handful of additional nails can mean the difference.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/panhandle-houses-intact-after-michael-were-often-saved-by-low-cost-reinforcements/2018/10/17/d3ca97c0-d152-11e8-b2d2-f397227b43f0_story.html?utm_term=.f32ea6cde12a
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President Jimmy Carter has been a strong proponent of Habitat for Humanity, and continues to do the physical work himself, alongside Rosalynn! True patriots!
Here's a nice summary of the Carters' work this year:
https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/build-events/carter-work-project/2018
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to prepare in case of a Hurricane!
You know those who didn't prepare wished they had.
When I saw Habitat for Humanity I immediately thought of Prez Jimmy Carter. An Awesome contributor to Humanity long after his Presidency. You can't always tell who's the best by how many terms they've had.. although sometimes you can.
This is what was done after Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii..
Hurricane Protection in Hawaii
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Hurricane protection is the structural strengthening of your home to better resist the steady force and strong gusts that occur for hours during a tropical storm or hurricane. Hawaii is different than every other coastal state because Hawaii has mountains and valleys and is susceptible to hurricanes from the East, West and South. Due to the warming of waters on the north side of the Hawaiian Islands in 2014/2015, Hawaii was also susceptible from the north, as two storms skirted the islands from the north side. Hurricane damage is something to take seriously. Hurricane Iniki struck Hawaii in 1991 and caused $1.8 billion dollars in damage and claimed 6 lives.
By strengthening the roof to wall, post to beam, and wall to foundation connections, houses are proven to withstand greater wind force. This is the single best way to strengthen your home against hurricane force winds.
As a result, the risk of damage to your home during a hurricane or high wind storm event is significantly reduced. Most hurricane insurers offer discounts on premiums for homes that undergo a hurricane protection retrofit. Hurricane protection retrofits are low cost and can be completed in 1-2 days. Often, the cost of the retrofit will completely pay it self back in a few years due to lower hurricane insurance premiums. Learn more about hurricane insurance discounts.
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Hurricane connectors are steel clips and straps that have been designed, tested, and mandated by all building codes for new construction to connect your roof structure to your wall structure. Only houses built in Hawaii since 1994 have hurricane clips mandated by county codes, but not all have clips for V gable peaks and horizontal lookout beams, nor for dutch gable peaks.
More.. http://www.hurricaneprotect.com/
Mahalo, SunSeeker!
it is up to strict code, baby! 
SunSeeker
I just realized the article I linked just says Hawaii was hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1991.. I should add.. specifically Kauai!
People around here (middle of land locked KY) thought I was nuts asking for hurricane clips back in the early '90s. My son had the after-school chore of nailing those suckers in, while his pop did the heavy stuff. 
And the information about the Carters' amazing work. He also helped built their own house - which they still live in today.
