A new research bulletin from Yardi Matrix assesses the ongoing recovery of multifamily markets in U.S. areas hit hard by hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters in 2017. Three hurricanes inflicted about $110 billion in property damage and $300 billion of economic loss in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, the bulletin notes, with the affected counties in the two states accounting for about 13% of total U.S. housing permits. Relocation by renters and homeowners sparked a rapid rise in apartment rents. Houston, for example, saw a 1.6% increase over the last four months of 2017, reversing about 18 months of decline. While increases were lower in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, this may change as residents displaced from Puerto Rico, which still needs major infrastructure resources, spur demand in these Florida metros. The bulletin predicts that the long-term need for housing will lead to higher occupancy rates, especially in the renter-by-necessity segment. Another factor impacting the housing recovery is a shortage of construction labor, driven by fewer young people entering the industry and a declining immigrant labor force. “As a result, expect prolonged construction delays nationwide,” the bulletin says. The report also examines natural disasters’ impact on the insurance market. Property owners in the private insurance market “should brace themselves for not only increasing insurance rates but also tightening terms and conditions of their policies,” the bulletin says, noting that “insurers are increasing deductibles for multifamily portfolios, and changing the deductible structure from a dollar value to a percentage of property value.” In California, which endured wildfires from San Diego to Sonoma, Proposition 103, an insurance regulatory measure, is expected to moderate rate hikes. Download the complete bulletin, titled “Flood and Fire: The Multifamily Sector’s Response to Natural Disasters.”...

As several devastating natural disasters have leveled towns and stalled economies, industry attention returns to smarter building. Construction professionals seek materials that are durable, versatile, and sustainable. An existing concrete product may be the key to better building. Conventional concrete—the go-to material for low- and mid-rise buildings— lacks the combination of compressive strength, tensile strength, and durability needed to withstand high magnitude earthquakes and daily wear. Concrete cracks, crumbles and collapses during earthquakes, leaving high repair costs and the potential loss of life. Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) sought to improve upon concrete without increasing the cost of construction. Their creation, eco-friendly ductile cementitious composite (EDCC), eclipses conventional concrete in three ways. Sustainability Conventional concrete production is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas, totaling 7 percent of global emissions. EDCC replaces 70 percent of cement with fly ash, which reduces the levels of carbon dioxide emitted. Additionally, EDCC reduces land and water pollution. The fly ash in EDCC is industrial waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or dumped into rivers and streams. Strength + Malleability Once dry, EDCC becomes as strong as steel yet is much more flexible. A half-inch thick concrete wall can resist a magnitude 9 earthquake when sprayed with a layer of EDCC  10 millimeters thick, UBC reports. Without the EDCC reinforcement, a wall of that thickness would collapse at 65 percent intensity. Versatility EDCC is a sprayable concrete mixture that can be used to reinforce and support thin concrete walls. Thinner concrete walls expand design possibilities without limiting the integrity of the structure. The spray facilitates easier application and a broader range of uses. Builders and engineers are already using the fiber-reinforced concrete to create in schools and businesses. EDCC can also be applied to...

Hurricane season is upon us, and it will linger until the end of November. Fortunately for the continental US, the storms seem to have forgotten their curtain call! It’s unlikely that their delay will last forever, though. Use this downtime to make sure that your residents are prepared for nature’s fury. Make hurricane preparedness fun! While written information is helpful, it’s unlikely that residents will read it thoroughly and commit it to memory. What they will remember is a fun game night. Consider hosting a trivia night (one for families and a separate event for adults if your budget can swing it). Games make life-saving lessons memorable and prizes are a good incentive that boosts participation. Think of your prizes as an opportunity. Practical prizes can be fun if they look cool enough. A roll of duct tape is always helpful but it has zero aesthetic appeal, right? A snazzy water bottle with built-in filter, rugged multitool, and a cleverly designed LED flashlight are more eye-catching and still useful. The grand prize could include a complete preparedness kit, which has significant monetary value and can also save lives. Bonus: such utilitarian expenses are more easily approved by your controller. Get creative! Post evacuation plans. Make sure that building evacuation plans are clearly posted on each floor of each building. Also consider emailing residents a copy of the city evacuation routes. It’s unlikely that they will bother looking at it when you send it, but they may just save it for future references. Danger begins with the surge. Think projectiles and high winds are a hurricane’s greatest threats? Guess again. Storm surges take more lives than winds and debris. A storm surge can exceed 20 feet. That’s a wall of water two stories high; most...