To demonstrate how thick plywood can withstand the force of flying debris in a Category 3 hurricane, professors at the University of Hawaii have used a wind cannon to shoot an 8ft 2×4 at 35mph at two pieces of ¾in plywood cemented together.
According to the Star Bulletin in Honolulu, the 2×4 bounced off the thick board.
The demonstration marked the signing by Civil Defence director Maj Gen Robert Lee and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Nancy Ward of two plans to mitigate natural disasters.
The All Hazards Concept Plan covers a range of disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, while the Catastrophic Hurricane Operations Plan, focuses on responding to and recovering from a Category 4 hurricane.
