If a coastal storm with winds gusting to 70 mph were forecast for Delaware next week, would your roof stay on, or would it be "gone with the wind"? If you want to know what measures you can take to better protect your home from storm damage, take a tour of Delaware's new coastal demo house.

The portable unit, a sturdy, little 6-by-16-foot house, built on a trailer, is designed to demonstrate the construction techniques and materials that coastal residents and builders should use to safeguard their homes from storms.

The demonstration house was built through a partnership involving the University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program, the city of Lewes, town of Bethany Beach, Federal Emergency Management Agency's Project Impact initiatives and a host of local businesses.

Building officials Bill Massey in Lewes and John Eckridge in Bethany Beach provided key technical assistance on the project, working closely with Wendy Carey, coastal processes specialist for the UD Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service.

"Coastal areas are at greatest risk of damage when hurricanes and northeasters occur," Carey says. "These storms can fuel powerful winds of more than 60 mph, generate 20-foot-high waves and produce storm surges that cause severe flooding. As more and more people move to the coast, the risk to life and property increases when a major storm rolls onto shore."

However, there are measures that the average homeowner can take to minimize wind and flood damage, according to Carey. "You can protect your home by strengthening its 'protective envelope'--its roof, walls, doors and windows," she notes. "The goal of the demo house is to show homeowners some of the simple, often inexpensive steps they can take to increase their house's ability to handle high winds and storm flooding."

For example, Carey says a house with a gabled roof (resembling the letter A) is more likely to suffer wind damage than a house with a hipped roof. If you have a house with a gabled roof, she says, you need to brace it well to withstand the severe uplift generated by high winds. The coastal demo house shows how.

"Additionally, one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your home is to install storm shutters on your windows," she adds. "You should also elevate utilities, such as your electrical service panel, air conditioner and water heater, two to three feet above the base flood elevation. If you have a fuel tank, anchor it so that it can resist the force of floodwaters."

Other protective measures, particularly for new construction projects, include installing metal fasteners called hurricane straps to hold the roof to the walls and using six nails per shingle to prevent roofing from being blown off in high winds. The coastal demo house provides examples of each of these features and how to install them properly.

Carey says the demo house already has proved itself as a useful education and awareness tool at public events and workshops for contractors in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach. Since the house is built on a trailer, it can be transported easily to other coastal communities in Delaware and neighboring states.

"Homeowners need to understand the vulnerability of living near the coast and the measures they can take to protect themselves from storm hazards," Carey says. "This project is a great example of partners working together to build disaster-resistant communities."

Other partners who contributed technical assistance and materials to the project include Quality Roofing Supply Co., East Coast Hurricane Shutters, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, Stanley/Bostich Co., Simpson Strong-Tie Co., Roll-A-Way Storm Shutters, Lewes Board of Public Works and Edwards Brothers Construction.

The demo house may be coming soon to a community event near you. Carey says it will be used at workshops for homeowners and building contractors and displayed at public events such as Coast Day in the future. For more information, contact the UD Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service at (302) 645-4346.

--Tracey Bryant