The numbers associated with Hurricane Katrina, which blew through the Gulf Coast in late August 2005, were staggering - thousands of homes and lives affected, billions of dollars of damage. And while the overall devastation was a stark reminder of the power of nature's fury, more than likely it was the image of a single house caved in by wind or a roof ripped from walls that startled many homeowners. What if that was my house? Could that happen where I live?

Residents of the Gulf States aren't the only ones who have to consider the impact of disastrous winds on their homes and families. Tornadoes have been particularly widespread and destructive this year, causing damage from Florida, Alabama and South Carolina to Indiana, South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. And in April, hundreds of homes in the Northeast were damaged by wind, flooding and pounding waves caused by a particularly fierce Nor'easter.

"No matter where you are in this country, you need to think about high winds and what they can do to your home," says Wendy Rose of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a non-profit association based in Tampa, Fla. You don't have to make your home look like a bunker, she notes, but instead can start by "choosing common sense products that will do the things you need them to do to stand up to the weather" that all homes will likely have to endure at some point.

Non-Floridian homeowners can learn from the state that has the most history with hurricane-force winds. Products that meet the Miami-Dade County building code have passed the most rigorous tests in the country. But even if these disaster-resistant products and materials never have to withstand severe winds, they can help create a safer structure that is also more energy efficient and durable.

While no home can be 100-percent disaster proof, there are steps you can take to make your home stronger and your family safer in the face of high winds, and the flooding and wind-driven rain that accompany them. An existing home can be strengthened with safety products such as impact-resistant windows or by reinforcing roof connections. New homes can be built from concrete or with steel framing, or even in an aerodynamic round shape. The possibilities are numerous and are gaining greater acceptance, as homeowners everywhere become aware of the need to make their homes more resistant to damage caused by disasters.

Strengthening Existing Homes

To make an existing home more disaster-proof, homeowners should focus on two critical areas: the roof, and openings in the building envelope such as entry doors, windows and garage doors. By reinforcing or renovating these components, homeowners can create a structure that is less susceptible to damage from high winds.

Since it's usually the largest single structural component of a home, the roof is critical in ensuring the strength of the structure. Every effort should be made to upgrade the roof as much as possible, says Rose. That's relatively simple to do when building a home, since a homeowner can upgrade the roof during installation, but trickier to do with an existing roof.

If you're putting a new roof on your home, it's a perfect opportunity to inspect the roof and make upgrades as necessary. With the old covering and underlying wood sheathing removed, you or your installer can check the roof to confirm that trusses and rafters are well connected to the walls. Also, make sure when attaching the new wood sheathing to the rafters and trusses that the installer uses ring shank nails instead of smooth nails. This can greatly increase uplift strength without greatly increasing the cost.

You can ensure a drier roof by adding a secondary moisture barrier beneath the covering. If you're installing a shingle roof, look for wind-resistant shingles, which typically are rated as impact- and fire-resistant as well. Metal roofing is another good wind- and impact-resistant option. Companies such as CertainTeed and DECRA Roofing offer a wide range of roofing options to create a roof that's both strong and attractive.

If you're not planning to re-roof soon, check the perimeter shingles on your roof by trying to lift their lower edges. If you find a shingle that's loose, secure it to prevent a domino effect of shingles lost in the wind. Gluing the roof sheathing to the rafters and trusses also increases the roof's durability.

Hurricane straps can greatly enhance a roof's strength. Now considered essential in hurricane- and tornado-prone areas, these straps are simply brackets, or similar pieces of hardware, that secure the roof to the walls. They can also be used where walls meet foundations and other joint structures to create greater stability in the face of wind or tremor pressure. The most effective straps are made of galvanized steel.

Installing straps is best done during initial construction, but can be added later or when re-roofing. In some homes, there is adequate exposure in an attic to attach tie-down straps, while in other cases soffits may have to be removed to add the straps to the outside of the home.

Secure the Openings

The size of garage doors, and their often-lightweight design, makes them particularly vulnerable to high winds. Reinforcing an existing garage door that is not wind- or impact-resistant is an option for homeowners. Many garage door companies now offer reinforcement packages, which cost around $400. If there's no sticker indicating wind load, chances are the door is not built for high winds. A wind-loaded garage door is designed with certain components, such as the track, rollers, hinges, brackets and reinforcing struts, that will enable it to withstand designated wind pressures.

Adding reinforcing materials to a garage door can affect its counterbalance system, so it's best to hire a trained door technician to implement any upgrades. Buying a new door is often the best option. Ask about wind-load doors when shopping. Wayne-Dalton, for example, has developed its own WindSafe Safety Level system to help homeowners determine the type of wind-load doors best suited for specific regions of the country.

As far as windows and entry doors are concerned, most manufacturers now offer impact-resistant windows and doors that not only prevent the intrusion of debris in high winds, but also are energy efficient, protect against break-ins and don't require adjustment, installation or electrical operation in the event of a crisis.

The glass used in these impact-resistant windows might shatter when impacted by wind-driven debris, but won't break into bits, thanks to a layer of durable plastic sandwiched between two panes of glass. In addition, frames are upgraded for strength and durability. The technology has rapidly advanced to the point where it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between hurricane glass and regular glass, so these windows won't affect your home's aesthetics.

Steel shutters also remain an option. Thanks to technological advancements, today's shutters are stronger and easier to operate, as well as more attractive, than earlier versions. Of course, low-tech plywood coverings are also an option in an emergency.

To keep entry doors secure, make sure they have at least three hinges, and check to ensure the doorframe is firmly anchored to the wall. For double doors, which are particularly susceptible to intrusion in high winds, heavy-duty bolts at the top and bottom of the door will provide valuable anchorage.

When the wind is blowing hard enough, water climbs exterior walls and seeps into the smallest of cracks, so seal any entry points for TV cable wires, telephone lines, HVAC lines and water pipes, as well as around electrical boxes and circuit breaker panels. Also, check for cracks in the seals around wall outlets, electrical devices, and dryer, bathroom and kitchen vents.

New Building

If you're building a new home and disaster resistance is a priority, you have a number of options. For starters, IBHS has developed a "Fortified ... for safer living" program, which specifies guidelines for construction, design and landscaping to increase a new home's resistance to natural disasters. On the IBHS website (see sidebar), you can view details about the program and view sample floorplans. You can also get a checklist, specific to your region, of recommendations for builders and architects, so disaster-resistance components can be included during the home's planning phase.

"There are many builders and developers who are looking for the newest technology and latest research, in terms of building stronger homes, to differentiate themselves from the market," says IBHS' Rose. "More and more builders are seeing the benefits of concrete and structural insulated panels [SIPs], and we're seeing a lot of modular homes that meet IBHS standards. But you can achieve a better standard with any form of construction, even wood frame - it just has to be done right."

The words "concrete home" may conjure up images of depressing, gray, block-shaped structures, but concrete forms into any shape, including stunning modern designs. Concrete goes a long way in the fight against disasters, and systems such as insulated concrete forms (ICFs) make building with concrete easy to design and manage. The continuous construction of integral walls stands up well to hurricane-force winds and wind-propelled debris. In addition, concrete is fire-resistant and immune to termites, rust and rot.

Like concrete homes, steel framing is another popular option when building or rebuilding communities in regions like the Gulf Coast. Steel frame homes are being heralded for their strength and longevity, and steel, like concrete, offers protection from fire, termites and rot. Many steel home manufacturers also prefabricate components, such as SIPs, which improve construction and speed build time.

"Consumers need to know that all of these products are out there and that they do make a difference," Rose says. "People need to shop for safety when it comes to their homes. We do it with our cars - now we need to get to the same message when it comes to our homes."

Tim O'Sullivan wrote about the Open Building concept in the January/February 2007 issue. He's based in Concord, N.H.