By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
Hurricanes cause significant wind and water damage, yet economic research primarily focuses on the
latter due to data limitations. We overcome this problem by analyzing photographs taken after Hurricane
Irma (2017) to locate blue-tarped homes. Using a regression discontinuity framework, we find the 2001
Florida Building Code impacted wind risk for over 500,000 homeowners. Adopters were 22% less likely
to experience wind damage and saw a 27% reduction in damage severity. Unrepaired properties also
sold for 13.3% ($29,400) less and were harder to sell, underscoring the importance of building codes in
mitigating risk and promoting climate change adaptation.
