14 Continued from previous page CREATING RESILIENCE TO HURRICANE WINDS It is important that we accept hurricanes as a part of the reality of Caribbean life that requires human behavioural change to promote higher levels of resilience. Experts in some quarters are predicting that hurricanes might become more powerful in the years ahead. Should that forecast prove to be accurate then we must bear the following in mind: in hurricanes, the wind force increases exponential. This means that in a hurricane, that is 25 mph stronger, the force of the winds will be 73% greater. Countries should have cohesive policies for Disaster Risk Reduction in relation to all hazards particularly land zoning and physical planning All our member states should work to create or revise their building codes and ensure that the appropriate resistance requirements for wind damage are included along with provisions for all major hazards Rigorous standards should be introduced and maintained for construction materials to promote resistance to all hurricane hazards. The standards should be backed up with relevant, modernised, laws and regulations The training that is formally provided in construction methods should be standardised to ensure the acquisition of skills and techniques related to hazards The mechanisms that are used for building inspection should be vigorously implemented in all sectors Continues on next page
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