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Bob Vila
0101 - Rebuilding to Beat a Hurricane
September 12-18, 2005 | March 13-19
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HI. I'M BOB VILA.

WE'RE DOWN IN SUNNY FLORIDA,
IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA,

WHERE WE'RE STARTING
A BRAND-NEW STORY TODAY,

AND IT'S ALL ABOUT RECOVERING
FROM THE HURRICANES.

WE HAD 4 HURRICANES LAST YEAR.

CHARLEY DESTROYED
11,000 HOUSING UNITS

HERE IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY,

AND WE'RE GONNA BE
GETTING TOGETHER

WITH A FAMILY
WHO LOST THEIR HOME,

AND WE'RE HELPING THEM REBUILD.

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS

[NO AUDIO]

WE'RE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
OF PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA,

HERE IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY,

A SMALL, LOVELY TOWN RIGHT
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO
AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR,

A GREAT PLACE TO RETIRE,
A GREAT PLACE TO VACATION,

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS ONE
OF THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES

DURING HURRICANE CHARLEY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD 4 HURRICANES

THAT CAME THROUGH FLORIDA
LAST YEAR,

BUT CHARLEY REALLY DID
SOME DAMAGE HERE.

WE LOST OVER 11,000
HOUSING UNITS.

NOW LESLIE CHAPMAN-HENDERSON
IS WITH US,

AND SHE IS WITH
AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED FLASH,

AND WE'RE GONNA
LEARN A LITTLE BIT

ABOUT WHAT
COMMUNITIES DO

IN TRAGIC SITUATIONS
LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, LESLIE,
THE FIRST THING--

THE REASON I WANTED
TO STAND IN FRONT
OF THESE TWO HOUSES,

THOUGH, IS THAT
THIS GORGEOUS
CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW

SEEMS TO BE
UNSCATHED AFTER ALL
THESE HURRICANES,

WHEREAS THE HOUSE
RIGHT NEXT DOOR
TO IT

IS A TEAR-DOWN.

THAT'S RIGHT, BOB,
AND IT'S ALL

ABOUT THE BUILDING
PRACTICES.

THAT'S WHAT WE TALK
ABOUT AT THE FEDERAL
ALLIANCE FOR SAFE HOMES

HIS HELPING HOMEOWNERS
UNDERSTAND

THAT THE WAY YOU BUILD
OR THE WAY YOU REBUILD

IS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN A DISASTER

LIKE A HURRICANE
OR ANYTHING ELSE.

MM-HMM. AND WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE THINGS

THAT HOMEOWNERS
NEED TO KNOW

IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW,
PRESENT DAY?

THE HURRICANE
SEASON'S ABOUT
TO START.

THE NAME OF THE GAME
IN WIND IS

KEEPING THE STRUCTURE
TIED TOGETHER

AND KEEPING
THE WIND OUT,

SO IF YOU COVER
YOUR WINDOWS, YOUR DOORS,
AND YOUR GARAGE DOOR,

YOU'RE HALFWAY THERE.

THE OTHER HALF IS
KEEPING THE ROOF ON,

AND AGAIN, THAT'S
ALL ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS.

WE DON'T WANT THE WIND IN
BECAUSE ONCE IT COMES IN,

IT'S GONNA FIND
ITS WAY OUT

AND ALONG THE PROCESS
IMPLODE YOUR HOME

OR TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF ITS WEAKNESSES,

CAUSING DAMAGE
TO FAILURE THROUGHOUT.

ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S GO
TO PUNTA GORDA ISLES

AND LOOK
AT OUR JOB SITE.

YOU BET.

WELL, WORK IS
ALREADY UNDERWAY,

AND RIGHT NOW,
LET'S TALK

WITH JESSE FROM
THE CONTRACTING
COMPANY,

AND RANDY'S HERE
FROM THE BUILDING
DEPARTMENT.

HOW COME YOU
USE THIS VERY
ELABORATE RIG

FOR POURING ALL
THIS CONCRETE?

WELL, IT MAKES IT
MUCH EASIER FOR US

TO REACH OUT
TO LONG DISTANCES,

TO GET TO THE FAR BACK
SIDES OF THE SLAB,

AND IT'S A LOT HARDER
TO GET THE CONCRETE TRUCKS

UP CLOSE TO THE SLAB,
AND IT'S MORE
COST-EFFICIENT FOR US.

SO IT IS MORE
COST-EFFECTIVE.

YES, SIR.
WOW.

OK. NOW BEFORE WE LOOK
AT IT IN DEPTH OVER HERE,

LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE CONDITIONS HERE

BECAUSE, RANDY, WE'RE
RIGHT ON THE EDGE
OF THIS NICE CANAL,

AND THIS IS ALL
MANMADE REAL ESTATE

FROM MAYBE, WHAT,
40 YEARS AGO?

YES. IT'S BEEN
DREDGED UP
AND USED FOR FILL.

AND WHAT'S IT LIKE
BUILDING ON THIS MATERIAL?

WELL, THE MATERIAL
ITSELF IS MOSTLY
SAND AND MARL,

AND IT'S BEEN UP
HERE LONG ENOUGH

TO HAVE DRAINED
QUITE A BIT.

OK. SO YOU CAN PUT
A HOUSE HERE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT IT SHIFTING,

BUT WHAT HAPPENS
WITH THIS KIND
OF SOIL CONDITION

WHEN YOU HAVE
A HURRICANE?

WELL, WHAT WE HAVE
HERE IS NOT

A RIVERING SITUATION
FOR FLOODING.

RIVERING?

RIVERING OF HILLS
AND VALLEYS,

WHERE IT CREATES
A VELOCITY-TYPE
OF FLOOD FLOW.

IT'S DIFFERENT HERE.

WE HAVE SLOWLY
RISING WATER

FROM A STORM SURGE.

SO IT'S A SURGE.

WOULD COME UP
AND INUNDATE
THE SITE.

AND WHAT HAPPENS
TO A HOUSE SLAB

WHEN YOU HAVE
AN INUNDATION LIKE THAT,
A FLOOD LIKE THAT?

WELL, IF IT'S JUST
ON A SLAB,

YOU COULD SUFFER
NOT ONLY FLOODING

IN THE INTERIOR
OF THE HOME,

BUT EROSION
OF THE FOOTINGS

UNDERNEATH THE SLAB.

SO THAT THE HOUSE ITSELF

CAN ALL
OF A SUDDEN TILT

OR WASH AWAY
PRACTICALLY.

YES.
YES.

SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT
TECHNIQUES NOW

THAT INVOLVE NOT JUST
SLAB-POURING

BUT BUILDING
A STEM WALL?

YES. WHAT IT DOES
IS, IT PUTS

THE FOOTER DOWN
BELOW THE SURFACE

WHERE IT NEEDS
TO BE,

BUT THE SLAB ITSELF
IS BROUGHT UP

ON A WALL.

THIS ALLOWS
THE FLOODWATERS

TO GO
AROUND THE HOME.

RATHER THAN GETTING
UNDERNEATH IT.

RATHER THAN SUBJECT
IT TO A FULL

HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
OF A...

EXACTLY. SO, JESSE,
EXPLAIN TO US

WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT HERE.

WELL, WHAT WE
DO FIRST IS,
WE COME IN HERE,

WE SCRAPE THIS LOT OUT.

THEN WE COME IN,
AND I BROUGHT IN

A FOOT OF FILL HERE,
BUILD A DIRT PAD.

THEN WE EXCAVATE
THE FOOTERS,

WHICH ARE 8x16 FOOTERS.

WE CALL THEM
FOOTINGS

IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY,

BUT THIS IS BASICALLY
ALONG THE ENTIRE
PERIMETER,

AND IT'S A BASE
FOR WHATEVER IS
COMING NEXT.

YES. IT'S A BASE
FOR THE 3-COURSE
STEM WALL.

ONCE WE POUR
THE FOOTINGS,

THEN WE PLACE
A 3-COURSE STEM WALL

ON TOP OF THAT,

AND AT THE TIME
OF THE SLAB-POUR

IN THESE AREAS
HERE WHERE
THE DOWN RODS ARE,

THESE AREAS
AND THESE CELLS ARE
FILLED SOLID,

AND WHEN WE DO GET
TO THE SLAB-POUR,

ALONG WITH
THIS NUMBER 5
CONTINUOUS HERE,

IT CREATES THE BOND
FOR THE TOP
OF THE SLAB.

THIS THE NUMBER 5
REINFORCING ROD

THAT IS CONTINUOUS
ALONG THE ENTIRE
PERIMETER.

YES. AND ALSO
IN THE FOOTINGS,

THERE IS TWO BARS
OF NUMBER 5
CONTINUOUS.

OK. SO THEN THIS IS
ALMOST ALL ONE
CONTINUOUS POUR.

THE BLOCKS GET FILLED IN,

AND THEN THE SLAB
GETS POURED IN
RIGHT AROUND US.

AND RIGHT NOW
WE CAN SEE THAT
THEY'RE JUST DOING

SOME TOP-DRESSING
OVER THERE,

AND WE'VE STILL GOT
THIS AREA,

AND THIS IS
THE GARAGE, RIGHT?

THAT'S
THE POOL AREA.

OK. SO THERE'S
STILL A WAYS TO GO.

[NO AUDIO]



SO, LESLIE, THE HOUSES
HERE IN PUNTA GORDA ISLES

DATE TO AROUND
1960, RIGHT?

THAT'S RIGHT.
IN FACT, THIS HOUSE
OVER HERE

WAS BUILT IN 1961
AS THE MODEL.

THE HOUSE THAT
WAS DESTROYED.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THEN THIS HOUSE HERE,
WHICH SURVIVED

IS FROM JUST A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO?

THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS HOUSE WAS
COMPLETED IN 2003.

SO THIS IS A STORY
OF TWO HOUSES,
TWO TALES,

AND THIS IS
A DIFFERENT
BUILDING CODE.

THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS BUILDING CODE

REQUIRED A LOT MORE
IN THE WAYS OF CONNECTION,

BUT THESE HOMEOWNERS
TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER.

THEY DECIDED TO PROTECT
THEIR WINDOWS, THEIR DOORS,

AND THE BACK
OF THEIR HOME

FROM THE IMPACT
AND PRESSURE OF WIND,

AND THAT'S WHY
IT SURVIVED.

AND THAT MADE ALL
THE DIFFERENCE.

IT SURE DID.

FANTASTIC.

LET'S MEET
THE HOMEOWNERS.
OK.

BOB, THIS IS
TERESA FOGOLINI
AND JIM MINARDI.

HI, TERESA.

HI. NICE TO MEET YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

NOW, TELL ME WHAT
IT WAS LIKE

RIDING OUT
HURRICANE CHARLEY.

WELL, ACTUALLY,
I WAS ON THE CELL PHONE
IN CALIFORNIA

TALKING TO JIM
THROUGHOUT THE HURRICANE.

THAT COULD BE
EVEN MORE
ANXIETY-PRODUCING

THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

SO YOU RODE OUT
THE STORM
IN THE HOUSE.

I RODE OUT THE STORM
IN THE HOUSE,

AND--HA HA HA--
THE STORM WAS TERRIFYING.

WE HAD--WE WEREN'T
EXPECTING SUCH
A TERRIBLE STORM,

BUT THEN WHEN THE ROOF
BLEW OFF,

FURNITURE BLEW OUT,
THE WINDOWS BLEW IN.

YOU WERE
IN THE HOUSE

BY YOURSELF
WITH YOUR PETS,

THE ROOF STARTS
TO GO,

THE WINDOWS POP,

STUFF STARTS TO FLY
OUT OF HERE

LIKE
THE REFRIGERATOR
IN THE CANAL.

IT BLEW OUT EVERYTHING.

MOSTLY THE STORM
WAS FROM THE EAST.

THINGS BLEW OUT
THE BACK INTO THE CANAL,

AND THEN IT GOT
AWFUL ENOUGH

THAT I DECIDED
TO SEEK SHELTER

IN MY NEXT DOOR
NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE--
DON AND CONNIE.

SO YOU WAITED
UNTIL THE EYE
OF THE HURRICANE--

I WAITED
UNTIL THE EYE.

DURING THE EYE,
I LOOKED AROUND,

SAW THE ROOF WAS GONE,
AND THE ROOF WAS GONE--

WERE YOU, LIKE,
IN A BATHROOM

OR IN A CLOSET
OR SOMETHING?

I DID GO
IN THE BATHROOM

WITH THE DOGS, YEAH,

BUT THEN AT HALFTIME,
I WENT OUTSIDE

AND LOOKED AROUND,
BUT THEN THE WIND
PICKED UP.

IT WENT FROM ZERO TO
OVER 100 MILES AN HOUR

ALMOST INSTANTLY.

ALMOST LIKE THAT,
YEAH.

I WAS SO SHOCKED,
I JUST WENT--

HAD TO CRAWL
TO MY NEIGHBORS'

BECAUSE THE WIND WAS
SO INTENSE AT THAT TIME.

AND YOU COULD
SALVAGE NOTHING,
RIGHT?

NO. THERE WAS--

NO. WHAT DIDN'T
FLY OUT OF THE HOUSE

BASICALLY JUST
WAS SO WET

THAT ABOUT 3 DAYS AFTER,
EVERYTHING JUST
STARTED MOLDING.

AND WHERE HAVE YOU
BEEN LIVING
UP UNTIL NOW?

WELL, WE WERE LIVING
ON A TRAILER

WHERE WE'RE
STANDING RIGHT NOW,

AND THEN IN ORDER
TO BUILD,

WE HAD TO MOVE
OUR TRAILER OUT
TO ARCADIA

TO A CAMPGROUND.

GREAT. SO NOW YOU'RE
READY TO BEGIN.

LET'S LOOK
AT THE HOUSE PLANS.

GREAT.

LET'S DO IT.

THANKS, LESLIE.
WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

ALL RIGHT, BOB.
THANKS.

Bob: WELL, GUYS,
LET'S SAY HI
TO SCOTT BUESCHER,

WHO'S HERE
FROM MERCEDES HOMES.

HI, SCOTT.

HEY, SCOTT.
HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD, BOB.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SCOTT
AND MERCEDES HOMES

ARE GONNA BUILD
YOUR DREAM HOME,

AND MY QUESTION IS,

DID YOU CHOOSE
A LAYOUT THAT'S
BASICALLY THE SAME

AS THE HOUSE
THAT WAS DESTROYED?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
AT ALL LIKE IT.

REALLY?

NO. THIS IS--

THIS IS A DREAM.

AN INCREDIBLE HOUSE.

WE JUST HAD
A LITTLE 3-BEDROOM
RANCH HOUSE BEFORE.

SO THE SILVER LINING
IS THAT ALTHOUGH
YOUR HOME

WAS DESTROYED,
YOU'RE LIVING
IN A TRAILER

OUT IN ARCADIA,

YOU WILL END UP
WITH YOUR DREAM
HOME HERE.

MORE THAN A DREAM.

YEAH. THAT'S GREAT.

MORE THAN WE COULD
HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

SCOTT, TAKE US
THROUGH THE LAYOUT,
WOULD YOU?

SURE. THIS OUR
JACQUELINE MODEL.

IF YOU COME IN
ONE THE LEFT-HAND SIDE,

WE HAVE A TWO-CAR GARAGE,

WE HAVE 3 BEDROOMS
WITH AN ADJOINING BATH,

AND WE HAVE
A LARGE FAMILY ROOM

WITH A CENTRAL KITCHEN
AND BREAKFAST NOOK,

A COMBINATION
LIVING AND DINING ROOM

AS YOU WALK
IN THE FRONT DOOR,

AND ON THE RIGHT
IS THE MASTER SUITE.

SO YOU'VE GOT--
THE MAIN ENTRANCE
IS HERE.

WE'RE RIGHT NOW
STANDING KIND OF
OPPOSITE THE GARAGE,

SO BECAUSE IT'S
A CORNER LOT,

YOU KIND OF DRIVE IN
THROUGH THE SIDE
OF THE HOUSE.

I LIKE THAT BECAUSE
YOU DON'T SEE

THE GARAGE DOORS
FROM THE STREET.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

NOW WHAT SORT
OF FEATURES DOES
THIS HOUSE HAVE

THAT WILL MAKE IT
HURRICANE-RESISTANT?

SOME OF THE GREAT FEATURES
WE HAVE IN THIS HOME

THAT WE'RE DOING
THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF FLORIDA

IS WE HAVE A CONCRETE,
SOLID-POUR EXTERIOR WALL.

IT'S REINFORCED
WITH REBAR

COMING UP
ABOUT EVERY 8 FOOT,

AND IN BETWEEN THAT,
WE HAVE STEEL ROAD MESH,
IF YOU WILL,

SO IT'S A 6-INCH THICK
SOLID-POURED CONCRETE

REINFORCED
WITH AN AWFUL LOT
OF STEEL.

NOW IS THIS TYPE
OF SYSTEM GONNA
REPLACE

THE TRADITIONAL
CONCRETE BLOCK
STRUCTURES

THAT WE SEE
ALL OVER FLORIDA?

I THINK IT WILL
EVENTUALLY.

BLOCK IS STILL
VERY PREVALENT,
IT WORKS WELL.

WE JUST THINK THAT THIS
IS ONE STEP STRONGER

AND A LITTLE BIT BETTER
THAN BLOCK.

WHAT ABOUT THE ROOF?
I MEAN, THE MAIN
PROBLEM

THEY HAD WITH THEIR
HOUSE WAS THAT
THE ROOF BLEW OFF.

WHAT KIND
OF A ROOF SYSTEM

WILL YOU PUT
ON HERE?

THIS IS AN ENGINEERED
TRUSSED ROOF.

IT WILL BE TIED DOWN
WITH OUR HURRICANE STRAPS

THAT ARE WET-SET
IN THE CONCRETE,

AND ON TOP
OF THE TRUSSES,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A 5/8 PLYWOOD.

SO WITH THAT,
IT'S A VERY, VERY
STRONG STRUCTURE.

WE'VE HAD THAT PERFORM
EXTREMELY WELL

IN THE LAST
HURRICANES THAT
CAME THROUGH.

AND YOU'RE
GONNA GET IT DONE
IN 3 MONTHS, RIGHT?

YES.
GOOD LUCK.

Bob: CLOSED CAPTIONING
PROVIDED BY...



HI. I'M BOB VILA.

JOIN ME AS I GET STARTED

ON A NEW STATE-OF-ART
STORM-READY HOUSE

IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA.

WE'LL MEET A COUPLE WHOSE HOUSE
WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED

BY HURRICANE CHARLEY IN 2004.

WE'RE TEAMING UP
WITH A FLORIDA BUILDER,

PUTTING UP A HOUSE THAT CAN TAKE
ANYTHING THAT'S BLOWN AT IT.

OUR FLOOR SLAB NEEDS
A 3-FOOT STEM WALL

FOR STORM SURGE PROTECTION

AND PLENTY OF STEEL
REINFORCING RODS

FOR TYING IN THE WALL SYSTEMS.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PEOPLE
FROM FLASH, THE FEDERAL
ALLIANCE FOR SAFE HOMES,

AND WE'LL EVEN HAVE A VISIT
FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.



HI. I'M BOB VILA.

JOIN ME AS I GET STARTED

ON A NEW STATE-OF-ART
STORM-READY HOUSE

IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA.

OUR FLOOR SLAB NEEDS
A 3-FOOT STEM WALL

FOR STORM SURGE PROTECTION

AND PLENTY OF STEEL
REINFORCING RODS

FOR TYING IN THE WALL SYSTEMS.



WE'RE KICKING OFF A NEW PROJECT.

IT'S A STORM-READY HOUSE

IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT
A STEM WALL IS FOR

AND POUR THE SLAB.

DON'T MISS IT.



Jesse: HEY BOB.
SAY HI TO MARK NEWTON

HERE WITH OUR SISTER COMPANY
SOLID WALL SYSTEMS.

HOW YOU DOING, BOB?

HOW ARE YOU, MARK?

SO YOU'RE IN CHARGE
OF THIS CREW.

THAT'S CORRECT.

NOW SOLID WALL SYSTEMS,
AS THE NAME IMPLIES

MEANS THAT WE'RE GONNA
HAVE SOLID CONCRETE
POURED WALLS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

KIND OF LIKE
IN A VAULT.

AND WHAT ARE THESE
FELLAS DOING RIGHT NOW?

RIGHT NOW THESE
GENTLEMEN ARE
INSTALLING

THE UP RODS,
WHAT WE CALL
UP RODS.

SO THESE ARE
VERTICALLY PLACED STEEL
REINFORCING RODS.

NUMBER...
5.

THAT REFERS TO THE SIZE
OF THE DIAMETER.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THEY'RE BEING
TIED UP, JESSE,

TO THE ONES THAT YOU
POURED IN THE SLAB EARLIER.

CORRECT.
OK.

NOW WHAT KIND
OF A GADGET IS THAT
HE'S USING?

WELL, IT'S
A BATTERY-POWERED
WIRE GUN.

BOY, THAT MAKES
THE JOB EASY,
DOESN'T IT?

YEAH, IT DOES.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT THEN.
ONCE YOU'VE GOT
THE VERTICALS,

WHAT ELSE IS INVOLVED
IN REINFORCING THE WALL

BEFORE YOU WOULD
DO A POUR?

OK, THE NEXT STEP,
ONCE HE GETS
THE UP RODS ON,

THEY'LL COME AROUND
AND MARK OUT ALL
THE OPENINGS

AS IN DOORS,
WINDOWS, THAT
KIND OF STUFF.

THEN AFTER THAT,
THEN THE WIRE MESH
WILL COME UP.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THE MESH IS.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS TO ME
LIKE WHAT WE PUT

IN SLABS AND SIDEWALKS
AND SOMETIMES IN BASEMENTS.

IT'S SIMILAR
IT'S A LITTLE
HEAVIER GAUGE.

IT'S REINFORCEMENT
FOR SOME OF
THE CONCRETE

TO ATTACH ITSELF TO.

IT'S GALVANIZED?
NO. IT'S RUSTING.

RIGHT.
OK.

AND SO THIS BASICALLY
GETS TIED--

AS HE'S DOING
OVER HERE--

TO--WELL, HE'S
CUTTING AND TRIMMING.

IT GETS TIED
TO THE VERTICAL RODS.

CORRECT.

AND JUST USING
THE SAME WIRE MACHINE.

CORRECT.

NOW LET'S TALK A MINUTE
ABOUT OPENINGS

BECAUSE YOU'RE BUILDING
A REINFORCED CONCRETE
SHELL HERE,

AND IN FLORIDA,
WE ALWAYS SEE A LOT
OF SLIDING PATIO DOORS

AND BIG PICTURE WINDOWS.

IF THIS WERE A REGULAR
CONCRETE BLOCK WALL,

HOW WOULD YOU HEAD OFF
THE TOP THERE?

OK. WHAT WE DO THERE
IS WHAT WE CALL
A BOND BEAM,

WHICH WE HAVE
A U-BLOCK SET UP
IN THE TOP,

AND IT HAS
THE NUMBER 5 STEEL
RUN IN IT,

AND IT'S POURED
SOLID.

OK. HOW DO YOU CREATE
A BOND BEAM

IN THIS SITUATION?

WHAT WE DO, BOB, IS
WE HANG A NUMBER
OF EDGE STIRRUPS,

PUT NUMBER 5 REBAR,
TIE-WIRE IT IN,

AND THEN THE NEXT
STEP WOULD BE

WHEN THE PANELS
COME IN,

THE HEADER
WOULD GO IN,

THE SHUT-OFF WOULD
GO IN THE SOLID
CONCRETE POURED.

ALL RIGHT.

WHICH HE'S DOING
RIGHT HERE.

HE'S ALREADY GOT
HIS HORIZONTAL PIECES,

WHICH ARE DOUBLED UP,
RIGHT?

RIGHT.
AND THEN...

HE HANGS
THE STIRRUPS,

AND THEN ONCE HE
GETS THE STIRRUPS
HUNG,

HE'LL DO THE SAME
THING HE DID
OVER HERE,

WHICH IS RUN
NUMBER 5 REBAR
IN IT,

TWO MORE HORIZONTALS

AND THEN TIE-WIRE
THEM.

GREAT. I GOT YOU.

SO THE FORM WORK THAT'S
USED IN THIS PROCESS
IS ALL ALUMINUM.

EACH ONE OF THESE PANELS
WEIGHS ABOUT 115 POUNDS,

AND THE WHOLE PACKAGE,
WHICH JUST ARRIVED ON THE SITE

AND GOT ARRAYED
AROUND THE FOOTPRINT
OF THE HOUSE,

IS WORTH ABOUT $150,000.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW IT ALL
COMES TOGETHER.

SO, JESSE, HAVE WE
FINISHED ALL
THE STEEL WORK,

ALL THE REINFORCING
WORK NOW?

YES, SIR, WE HAVE.
WE'RE WAITING ON RANDY

FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT
TO COME DO THE INSPECTION.

OK. SO, MARK,
WE'VE LOOKED AT HOW

WE PUT THE HEADERS
TOGETHER AND STUFF.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FORMS

AND HOW THEY'RE
HELD IN PLACE.

THERE'S MECHANICAL
FASTENERS.

RIGHT. WHAT YOU'VE
GOT IS A PIN
AND A WEDGE

THAT GOES HERE THAT
HOLDS THE ACTUAL
FORM TOGETHER.

UH-HUH.

SLIDES IN THAT PIN,
THEN GETS HAMMERED.

THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

THERE'S SPACE
THROUGHOUT
EACH PANEL.

AND YOU'VE GOT
A LOCKING
MECHANISM HERE

THAT TIES ALSO
THE PANEL TOGETHER.

ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN WHAT
ARE THESE THINGS FOR?

THIS IS
A SPACER WHEEL,

WHICH HOLDS
THE STEEL CENTERED

FROM THE INSIDE PANEL
TO THE OUTSIDE PANEL.

THE PANELS ARE
ALSO TIED TOGETHER
WITH A WALL TIE,

WHICH GOES IN HERE.

IT'S MADE TO BREAK
ONCE THE PANELS
ARE TOGETHER

AND THE FORM
IS POURED.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

THE CENTER
OF THE TIE RIGHT
WHERE IT'S--

YOU SNAP THEM OFF.

SNAP THEM RIGHT OFF.
OK.

SO ALL WE'RE
WAITING FOR HERE IS
A FEW MORE PANELS,

AND THEN EVENTUALLY,
WE'LL BE POURING.

CORRECT.

HOLD THIS END
FOR ME

SO I CAN HANDLE
THE WALL TAPPING.

Bob: JOINING US NOW IS
FLORIDA'S LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR TONI JENNINGS

AND THADDEUS COHEN.

NOW IT'S BEEN
ALMOST A YEAR

SINCE FLORIDA WAS HIT
BY 4 HURRICANES
ALL AT ONCE.

TELL ME WHAT IT'S BEEN
LIKE IN THE LAST YEAR

AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF THE STORM.

WELL, LET ME FIRST
TELL YOU ABOUT THE STORM.

OF COURSE THE ONE
THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY IS CHARLEY,

WHICH HIT AUGUST 13,
FRIDAY THE 13,
OF LAST YEAR.

CAME THROUGH THE STATE
VERY QUICKLY.

LITERALLY WAS
IN AND OUT OF THE STATE
WITHIN 24 HOURS.

DID TREMENDOUS
AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE,

AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE
PREPARED FOR THAT.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER,
HERE COME FRANCES
AND IVAN AND JEAN.

4 HURRICANES AS
A TOTAL THERE.

WE'VE GOT OVER 700,00
HOMES IN FLORIDA DAMAGED.

WE EVACUATED ABOUT
9.4 MILLION FLORIDIANS.

MOST FLORIDIANS LOST
THEIR POWER AT ONE POINT
OR ANOTHER.

ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WERE CLOSED.

$42 BILLION WORTH
OF PROPERTY DAMAGES,

AND HERE WE ARE
IN HURRICANE SEASON AGAIN.

EXACTLY.

WE'RE NOT REPAIRED
FROM ALL OF THAT.

WE'RE NOT REPAIRED,
BUT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

HAS DONE A LOT
TO GET US PREPARED FOR IT.

ABSOLUTELY. WE WERE
AS PREPARED

AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA BE
FOR THESE STORMS

WHEN THEY HAPPENED
LAST YEAR,

BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE--
AND FORTUNATELY

WE'VE HAD WONDERFUL PARTNERS
IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

WITH FEMA AND WITH OUR OWN
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION,

DOLLARS COMING TO FLORIDA,

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRAND DOLLARS,

WHICH ALLOWED US--
$100 MILLION,

WHICH HAS ALLOWED US
TO HELP COMMUNITIES
WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE,

SO AS THEY REBUILD,
WE CAN REBUILD IT
IN A BETTER WAY,

AND WHAT WE DO KNOW IS,
THE HURRICANE CODE IN 1992

WHEN ANDREW CAME
THROUGH THE STATE

AND WE REWROTE THE CODE
HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS
ADVANTAGE.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN NEW CODE
AND OLD CODE.

OH, WE STARTED
OUT THIS SHOW

BY LOOKING AT A HOUSE
ACROSS THE STREET

AND LOOKING
AT THE VESTIGES
OF WHAT WAS HERE.

SO WE KNOW VERY MUCH
ABOUT THE BUILDING
CODE TODAY,

AND WE'RE HOPING
THAT THIS WILL SERVE
AS AN EXAMPLE

TO OTHER COMMUNITIES
AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION
FOR YOU.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE
A PRACTICING ARCHITECT,
MR. SECRETARY.

HOW HAS BEING
AN ARCHITECT HELPED
YOU IN YOUR JOB

AS SECRETARY
OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS?

IT'S WORKED
VERY WELL

BECAUSE A LOT
OF WHAT I DID
IN PRIVATE PRACTICE

ARE THE SAME KINDS
OF THINGS THAT WE'RE

NOW LOOKING AT
STATEWIDE.

AS WE WERE TALKING
EARLIER,

THE RESPONSE THROUGH
THE DIVISION OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,

YOU'RE LOOKING
AT HAZARD MITIGATION
ISSUES HERE,

BEING ABLE TO
PROTECT THE HOMES.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU DO AS
AN ARCHITECT.

BUILDING CODES
IS ALSO PART
OF OUR AGENCY,

SO CLEARLY, WE'RE
ALL FAMILIAR
WITH THOSE,

AND AGAIN BUILDING
BACK BETTER,

AS THE GOVERNOR
INDICATES,

AND THEN ALSO
AS WE LOOK AT SOME

OF OUR
FEDERAL PROGRAMS

THROUGH OUR DIVISION
OF COMMUNITY PLANNING,

AS WELL AS HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE
A LOOK AT AGAIN
THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS

AND HOW WE CAN MAKE
OUR COMMUNITIES
SUSTAINABLE.

SO ALL PART
OF THE THINGS YOU
THINK ABOUT

IN THE BUILDING
ENVIRONMENT.

[NO AUDIO]



SO WE'RE
AT THE STAGE

WHERE RANDY'S HERE
FOR AN INSPECTION.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR
IN THIS TYPE
OF A STRUCTURE?

I'LL BE LOOKING
FOR THE VERTICAL
REINFORCEMENT

IN THE PROPER PLACEMENT.

THE VERTICAL RODS?

THE VERTICAL RODS
COMING UP
THROUGH THE FOOTER.

AND THEY'RE WHAT,
3 FEET APART?

YES. AND THEN I'M
LOOKING FOR
PROPER SPLICING--

WHERE YOU HAVE
A SPLICE LIKE THIS,

I'M LOOKING
FOR AT LEAST 30 TIMES
THE BAR DIAMETER

IN THE LAP
ON THE SPLICE.

AHA! SO THE OVERLAP
IS FROM HERE
TO HERE?

YES.
GOT YOU. OK.

LOOKING FOR IT
TO BE TIED

TO THE HORIZONTAL
SINGLE BAR REINFORCEMENT,

AND AT THE CORNERS,

I'M LOOKING
AT THE CORNER
SPLICES

AND MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE
THE PROPER LAP

AT THE SPLICE.

OK. AND THERE'S
NOTHING IN TERMS

OF RELATING TO
THE ROOF STRUCTURE

THAT'S COMING
ON LATER?

THERE'S NOTHING
FROM THE FORM
THAT PROTRUDES

LIKE ANY KIND
OF BARS?

AS IT'S POURED,
THEN THE ANCHORS

WILL BE IMBEDDED
INTO THE WET CONCRETE.

OK. I GET IT.
ALL RIGHT.

I'M ALSO LOOKING
FOR THESE SPACERS
PERIODICALLY.

THEY KEEP THE STEEL
FROM LAYING
AGAINST THE FORMS.

THEY KEEP
THE STEEL CENTERED
IN THE MIDDLE.

I GOT YOU. OK.

JESSE, I UNDERSTAND
YOU GUYS BUILD

ABOUT 80 HOUSES
A MONTH NOW
OF THIS SORT.

YES, SIR, WE DO.

FANTASTIC.
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, FELLAS.

WE'RE RUNNING SHORT
ON TIME.

COME NEXT WEEK WHEN WE'LL
BE POURING THE WALLS

AND WE'LL EVEN GET TO
STRIP THE FORMS.

TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.

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