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How roofs work · Hurricanes

How hurricanes damage roofs, and what keeps yours on

Hurricane wind pulls roofs up more than it pushes them in. Here is where roofs fail and what stops it.

Last reviewed September 27, 2026

Wind pulls, not just pushes

When wind flows over a roof it creates suction, the same way air over a wing creates lift. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program explains that vortices form over roof edges and create strong local suction there. That is why most roof covering blow-offs start at the edges. FEMA also warns that roof overhangs can become a major source of uplift failure.

It gets worse if a window or garage door breaks. Wind rushes in and pressurizes the house from inside, pushing up on the roof while the wind outside pulls. FEMA notes a broken window or door can lead to structural damage this way.

The chain that holds a roof on

A roof stays on only if every link holds: shingles to underlayment, deck to rafters, rafters to walls. Florida’s wind mitigation form grades two of those links.

Roof deck attachment

Form ratingWhat it means
AStaples or 6d nails, 6 in. at edges and 12 in. in the field
B8d nails, 12 in. max in the field (uplift resistance of at least 103 psf)
C8d nails, 6 in. max in the field (uplift resistance of at least 182 psf)
DReinforced concrete roof deck

FEMA recommends full round-head 8d ring-shank nails when re-nailing a deck. The FORTIFIED standard calls for 8d ring-shank nails every 4 inches.

Roof-to-wall connections

Florida law requires roof-to-wall upgrades during a reroof for homes in the wind-borne debris region with an insured or just value of $300,000 or more, when the cost is about 15% or less of the reroof.

Roof shape matters

Research summarized by the Department of Energy found peak wind pressures can be up to 50% lower on a hip roof than on a gable roof. Hip roofs brace themselves. Gable ends need proper bracing.

What recent storms showed

What you can do

  1. Get a wind mitigation inspection to see how your deck and roof-to-wall connections rate.
  2. When you reroof, ask for ring-shank nails, a sealed roof deck and the best roof-to-wall upgrade your budget allows.
  3. Check My Safe Florida Home, which has funded roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and secondary water resistance.

See the price for your roof

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Frequently asked questions

Where do roofs fail first in a hurricane?

At the edges and overhangs, where wind creates the strongest suction. FEMA found displaced hip and ridge caps were the most common damage after Hurricane Ian.

What are hurricane straps?

Metal connectors that tie the roof framing to the walls. On the Florida wind mitigation form, clips, single wraps and double wraps rate higher than toe nails.

Are hip roofs better in hurricanes?

Research summarized by the Department of Energy found peak wind pressures can be up to 50% lower on hip roofs than on gable roofs.

More on how roofs work

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Sources