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Prepare Your Manufactured Home for Hurricane: Tips for S.C. Manufactured Home Owners

The S.C. Board of Manufactured Housing, in conjunction with the Manufactured Housing Institute of S.C., offers the following guidelines for preparing a manufactured home for a tropical storm.

Know the age of your home and the wind level it is designed to withstand
Most of the wind damage seen on television involves older homes. Prior to 1976 the homes were built to a patchwork of state, local and voluntary codes. Some were well built; others were not.
Wind resistance levels are printed in the homeowner's manual as well as on the “data plate” located in each home. Data plates are typically found in the home's utility room, inside a kitchen cabinet, or similar location.
Wind standards for manufactured homes were revamped in July 1994 following Hurricane Andrew. Federal law requires that a home built and installed after that date in the nine South Carolina counties nearest the coast must withstand winds of 100 mph. These counties include Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper and Williamsburg.
Homes placed inland must be able to withstand sustained wind gusts of 80 miles per hour.

Verify proper installation of home

The most common reason for wind damage in manufactured homes is improper installation, rather than the structure of the home itself. A manufactured home will perform properly in high winds only if it is properly installed.
First, determine if a contractor licensed by the Board installed the home. These installers must undergo training, testing, and be licensed and bonded.
If a company licensed by the Board didn't install the home, the homeowner should have a licensed installer inspect the set-up of the home. To check the licensing status of an individual or company, call the Manufactured Housing Board at (803) 896-4682.

Do your own inspection.

Manufactured homes are anchored by a series of 10 to 20 large steel anchors, depending on the size of the home. Anchors are connected by metal anchor straps to the heavy steel frame that the house rests on.
Inspect each anchor strap beneath your home to be certain that there is no slack. Check also for rusted straps and have these replaced. Check for signs of movement in the anchors themselves. These inspections are particularly important the first six months after the home is installed (due to settling) and after a storm.
Anchor straps can be tightened with a socket, ratchet and adjustable wrench, but most consumers will want to leave the replacement of straps and resetting of anchors to a professional.

Follow Evacuation Instructions

Evacuate your home immediately when local authorities call for an evacuation. Ignoring evacuation notices puts homeowners at needless risk.

For more information on manufactured homes, go to www.mhisc.com or www.manufacturedhousing.org.