2009 年 13 巻 2 号 p. 189-196
Worldwide property losses due to extreme wind events are escalating. While a large portion of the increases in loss can be attributed to population growth and concentration of property value in vulnerable areas, global climate change could exacerbate losses in vulnerable areas and make buildings and infrastructure in relatively safe areas more vulnerable. Advances in forecasting and warning systems can provide residents with time to seek shelter from natural perils; in some cases (e.g., hurricanes), advanced warning can enable property owners to take steps to reduce losses. However, last–minute property protection measures are usually limited to activating pre-established systems. The best overall building protection system remains passive strength and mitigation measures that are built into a structure.
This paper explores steps taken by the building and insurance industries that clearly indicate that losses can be reduced and risks managed in ways that provides greater individual and community security and economic stability. It is also clear that efforts to reduce or reverse the rapid escalation of property losses as the result of natural perils face significant technical, systemic and public policy challenges. This paper identifies weaknesses in current extreme wind loss reduction efforts and offers suggestions for enhancing these efforts. It also identifies steps that are being taken by the building and insurance industries that will mitigate future damage to existing buildings and structures and help society adapt to existing risks and changes in risk due global climate change.
