Norman — A Norman home builder has been pegged by the state’s home builders to take the lead in partnering with the federal government to mitigate future storm damage as hurricane force winds have wreaked havoc in the state.

C.A. McCarty Construction of Norman is the first in the state to institute high-wind construction practices within the base of a home, which include structural connectors, anchors and other fastening systems manufactured by Simpson StrongTie. These practices take anchoring systems instituted after the May 3, 1999, tornado to a new level.

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency acknowledges that we’ve got high winds in Oklahoma and wants to get people to build to a higher standard as part of basic construction,” said owner Curtis McCarty.

“Rafter ties got a lot of attention after the May 3, 1999, tornado but what we are working on is whole new level of protection.”

McCarty is partnering with FEMA, Oklahoma State Home Builders Association, Simpson StrongTie, Owens Corning and State Farm in building the first complete high-wind resistant home. All concur McCarty is the first on the scene with the test home.

OSHBA executive director Mike Means of Edmond says McCarty is the man for the job.

“Curtis is in the ideal position to test the waters, as one of our industry’s leaders and our resident expert on the Uniform Code Commission. Hopefully, it will prove to be an inexpensive but value-based option that consumers can consider when building their next new home.”

The concept goes beyond just the roof, which traditionally has been the focus in the past by builders.

Current Oklahoma building codes require a structure to withstand winds of 90 mph.

The use of metal connector straps to protect against winds higher than that is not standard practice in residential construction in the state.

However, McCarty said keeping the roof on a structure will help to prevent major damage in the event of straight line winds and tornadoes with winds in excess of 90 mph.

“If you can hold the roof on, you can hold the house together. Once the roof is gone, the whole house is gone because the openings over doors and windows are the weakest points of the house.”

John Bourdeau, FEMA mitigation HPA specialist temporarily assigned to Oklahoma, is meeting with McCarty, state agencies, municipalities and OSHBA to develop a report on what the state can do to reduce damage caused by high winds and tornadoes.

That report could suggest changes in the statewide building code, recently approved by legislators.

McCarty is one of 11 governor-appointees to formulate that statewide code, the state’s first Oklahoma Uniform Building Code.

He also is chairman of OSHBA committee on statewide codes, was OSHBA’s Builder of the Year this year, and is past president of the Builders Association of South Central Oklahoma.

The FEMA report could recommend new homes have the ability to withstand an F5 tornado, a direct hit from weaker tornadoes ranging in strength from F0 to F3, and straight-line winds up to 120 mph.

F5 tornadoes are the most devastating while F0 through F3 range from moderate to severe in terms of structural damage.

Bourdeau’s goal is to inform the public of these safety features so consumer demand makes the state a safer place to live.

 “The high wind construction package also will substantially preserve the home and therefore personal belongings which cannot be replaced by any dollar amount of insurance,” Bourdeau said.  “This option is neighborhood friendly in that fewer pieces of the home will become airborne, which can create additional damage or loss of life.”

“If the best of the best builders take the lead, competition will do the rest,” he said.

In addition to interior reinforcements on his new home construction, McCarty also is using Owens Corning WeatherGuard HP Shingles, which are high wind and impact resistant for protection against hail.

He estimates high wind construction will add $1 per square foot more to the total cost of construction.

For the model 4,500-square-foot home under construction with high-wind resistance, the additional cost would be $4,500.

“In order to reduce the amount of loss in residential areas, you start where the house is held down to the foundation which is called the base, or sole, plate,” McCarty said.

“You hold the roof on the top plate and use metal straps to hold that plate down to the wall. Essentially, you have one connection from the foundation to the roof.”