Structural Resilience in Hurricane Season: How Engineers Prepare and Recover
- Ciro Cuono
- Aug 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Hurricane season on the East Coast brings more than rain and wind — it brings structural risk and uncertainty. Climate change has amplified the intensity and frequency of storms, while rising rainfall and flood levels have increased risks for buildings and communities. For architects, contractors, and property owners, these challenges are not hypothetical; they are structural.
Structural engineers play a critical role in addressing these risks, both by designing proactive solutions before the storm and by developing repair and reinforcement strategies after damage occurs. At Cuono Engineering, we work on both sides of resilience: preparing structures before the storm and restoring them after damage.
Preparing for the Storm: Top 5 Structural Considerations
Structural engineers address storm resilience on multiple levels. While every building is unique, there are five key areas that consistently determine whether a structure will withstand a hurricane.
1. Strengthen the Foundation
Foundations are the first line of defense against floodwaters. Elevating homes or reinforcing existing foundations in flood-prone areas reduces risk and ensures compliance with FEMA floodplain requirements.
2. Secure the Roof and Envelope
Roof failures are one of the most common points of catastrophic storm damage. Engineers design continuous load paths — tying roof, walls, and foundation together — to resist uplift forces. Window, door, and garage door assemblies must also be braced or impact-rated to protect the envelope.
3. Inspect Structural Connections
Over time, bolted or nailed connections can loosen or degrade. Engineers verify that framing connections are continuous and capable of transferring wind and seismic loads throughout the structure. Decks, porches, and additions are often the weakest links and must be carefully tied back into the main frame.
4. Manage Surrounding Trees and Hazards
Storm resilience extends beyond the structure itself. Many major failures occur when trees or debris impact a building. While trimming or removing unstable trees may feel like landscaping, it is also structural risk management.
5. Plan for Emergency Inspections and Repairs
No matter how well a structure is designed, hurricanes are unpredictable. Having a structural engineer identified in advance allows property owners to secure quick inspections, temporary bracing, and post-storm repair strategies when time is critical.
After the Storm
Even the best-prepared buildings can sustain damage in severe weather. One of the most dangerous and costly scenarios is when trees fall onto buildings. These impacts can cause visible damage — punctured roofs, crushed walls — but also hidden structural issues that are far less obvious. That's when it's time to bring in an engineer!
Structural engineers are uniquely qualified to:
Assess safety before re-occupancy.
Identify hidden risks in walls, roofs, and foundations.
Develop tailored repair and reinforcement solutions.
At Cuono Engineering, we’ve seen how storm damage can compromise more than just surface-level elements. A fallen tree may cause lateral shifts in a foundation or introduce micro-cracking in structural walls. These issues may not be visible immediately, but left unaddressed they can reduce safety and longevity. Our role is to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Repair and Reinforcement Solutions
Storm recovery is not about “patching” — it is about restoring and strengthening. Structural engineers develop customized repair designs that address both the immediate damage and future risk.
Repair solutions often include:
Reinforcing compromised framing with steel or engineered wood.
Designing new foundations or foundation repairs to restore capacity.
Adding bracing or shear walls to improve lateral resistance.
Re-establishing continuous load paths to prevent progressive failures in future storms.
By collaborating closely with contractors and architects, engineers ensure repairs are not only structurally sound but also seamlessly integrated into the building’s design and use.
The Cuono Difference
Hurricane season puts buildings — and the communities who use them — to the test. At Cuono Engineering, we believe resilience is both proactive and reactive. We design with flooding, wind, and impact in mind, and we respond quickly when unexpected damage occurs.
From elevating homes above floodplains, to reinforcing roof-to-wall connections, to conducting detailed post-storm inspections, our mission is the same: to protect structures and safeguard the people who depend on them.
📩 When it comes to storm damage, preparation can’t wait. Contact Cuono Engineering to help you design for resilience — and recover with confidence.
Comments