Natural disasters are affecting communities across the United States more often, and a new study links safer housing to both stronger structures and smarter regulatory systems. The research team, led by University of Notre Dame political scientist Susan Ostermann with civil engineers María J. Echeverría and Abbie Liel, received funding from the National Science Foundation and published their findings in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Ostermann and Liel argue that resilience is both a governance and technical challenge: codes exist but implementation can fail or clash with local practice.
In Anchorage, Alaska, where geographic isolation and local attitudes shape rule reception, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2018 destroyed or damaged more than 750 homes. The researchers found that distrust of government rules meant that stronger codes alone did not produce safer construction. Ostermann proposes a concept she calls regulatory pragmatism, which designs regulation to fit local culture and practice rather than imposing a single top-down model. She also notes that building codes are large and complex—"If you were to print it out, it’s multiple volumes"—so officials should prioritise the features most important for local hazards.
Computational structural engineering analysis by Echeverría and Liel identified a common weakness in two-story houses built over large, open garages: the second floor can create torsion because the first floor provides limited lateral support. The team highlighted several practical, low-cost features that are often absent and that officials could prioritise:
- Shear walls — walls designed to withstand lateral forces such as wind
- Proper framing around garage openings
- Hold-downs — steel connectors that anchor a wall to the foundation and keep it anchored amid shaking
The researchers are also studying housing in Puerto Rico, still rebuilding eight years after Hurricane Maria, and Lahaina, Maui, damaged in the 2023 wildfire. Ostermann concludes that when communities, engineers, builders and policymakers work together, resilience becomes a practical reality and people can safer make their homes.
Difficult words
- resilience — ability to recover and resist shocks
- governance — system of rules and decision-making
- implementation — process of putting rules into practice
- regulatory pragmatism — making rules fit local culture and practice
- torsion — twisting force that affects structures
- lateral — sideways direction or sideways support force
- shear wall — wall that resists sideways forces like windShear walls
- hold-down — steel connector that anchors wall to foundationHold-downs
- framing — structure of beams around an opening
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could regulatory pragmatism help improve local acceptance of building codes in your community?
- Which of the low-cost features mentioned would be easiest to add to existing houses in your area, and why?
- What challenges might officials face when prioritising code features for specific local hazards?
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