Hurricane Gilbert 1989 - Jamaica
Gilbert is the strongest hurricane in Jamaican recorded history (wind speeds to 320 km/h).
Many roofs suffered serious damage, but the Golden Age Home in Kingston´s Trench Town became a refuge for neighbors whose tin roofs had flown away. Its Micro Concrete Roof resisted well and only five tiles on the open overhang were lifted. It must be stressed that these tiles were not properly fixed as recommended, even worse, the wire loops were not nailed down!
In the Dominican Republic MCR roofs did not suffer while zinc roofs were severely damaged and the vaulted brick roofs were not affected
In the early days of Micro Concrete Roofing (MCR) the recurring hurricanes were an important test. In Jamaica and the Dominican Republic all tiles were manufactured by local producers and sometimes placed on rudimentary support structures.
