On October 19th the Grand Opening Event was held of IBHS’ new state-of-the-art, multi-risk Research Center in South Carolina. Download video (small/web) (large/broadcast ) from the test demonstration, as well as several photographs.
The event was widely covered by media, please find several links below for you to easily access the major news coverage. IBHS was live on “The Today Show” during the 7 a.m. hour, as well as live on the Weather Channel throughout the day with Jim Cantore, and FOX News Channel also broadcast live from the lab on and off all day through their evening news program. In addition, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal on October 19th. The Associated Press was also in attendance and the story has been picked up all over the country (a link to the AP story in USA Today is below). In total, there were more than 30 media outlets represented Tuesday. The coverage continued this the next morning, when IBHS conducted a satellite media tour featuring interviews with IBHS President and CEO Julie Rochman, SVP of Research and Chief Engineer Dr. Tim Reinhold, and Director of Research Dr. Anne Cope. The tour was mainly aimed at t.v. and radio stations in the western region of the country that were unable to travel to the Research Center.
As you will see when you download the video, we had a spectacular test demonstration for the Grand Opening, featuring one home built to conventional Midwest construction standards and another home built to the IBHS FORTIFIED for Safer Living® Midwest standard sitting side by side in our test chamber. Both houses were subjected to severe thunderstorm conditions and straight line wind conditions that were at hurricane levels. The conventionally constructed home collapsed, while the FORTIFIED home remained standing.
Brenda O’Connor / Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, IBHS
Today Show
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3041440/vp/39737094#39737094
Weather Channel
http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/todays-top-forecast-4276#18561
Fox News
http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/22532467
Wall Street Journal (10/19 print and online)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303496104575560223902506374.html?KEYWORDS=ibhs
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2010-10-19-hurricane-houses-test_N.htm