What to do?

[bigpaul]

I've seen a lot of reports on weather in the US and in a country that suffers from hurricanes all the houses seem to be made of wood, I can understand using wood in a poor country thats all they can afford but in the supposedly richest country in the world? dosent make sense.

I've often wondered why bricks aren't more commonly used. Is it the cost factor?

I think it may be a cultural thing, a follow on from the traditional log cabin maybe?

[CharlesHarris]

Slum landlords are the same everywhere. They build the cheapest rental unit which meets the minimum standard. Survivability in storms is not a factor. Local governments permitting below grade cellar apartments in potential flood zones to increase the number of taxable dwellings is.

Greed. Pure and simple.