BATON ROUGE, La. – More than 200 people learned how to update their homes and make them safer during hurricane season at the Hurricanes, Homes and Yards event at the LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse on June 13.
LaHouse is an educational and demonstration center built as a residential home near the Alex Box Baseball Stadium on the LSU campus.
The educational sessions and tours at the June 13 event included a session on landscaping taught by LSU AgCenter extension horticulturist Dan Gill.
Gill said for landscaping that's hurricane-resistant, pick small tree species such as redbuds, dogwoods and crape myrtles for restricted spaces near structures. Leave the large open areas for planting oaks, sycamores, hackberries, sweet gums, pecans, poplars and other large species. And prune and take care of your trees all year long. Read more on landscaping for hurricanes:
Did a tree just fly by? Check yours long before storms come
Participants were given tours of the house and learned of the many different features of the house. For example, for high wind resistance, choose soffits and shutters for high wind resistance. Air conditioning units should be elevated to match the foundation. Hip roofs are more aerodynamic and inherently more resistant to uplift forces of high wind than gable end and other roof designs. Learn more about LaHouse. Read more about LaHouse building features:
LaHouse building features (Throughout)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (West Wing)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (East Wing)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (Mid Section)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (Garage)
Wind-resistant Roofs and Attachments
“LaHouse features multiple solutions to making homes safer from storm and flood damage,” said Margaret Pierce, LaHouse coordinator.
In addition, the June 13 event featured sessions on GPS mapping and determining the storm surge probabilities by address, making your own biodiesel from used vegetable oil, and wetland education programs for youth.
LaHouse is open for tours Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call LaHouse at 225-578-7913.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture