Hurricane Ike hits Beachtown, Galveston, Texas

"The James Hardie products installed on the Beachtown structures performed exceptionally well during Hurricane Ike," says Town Architect Chad Cooper. "The Artisan product installed at the 2008 Coastal Living Magazine Idea House and our other beachfront residences weathered the storm on par with all the Hardie products. I am very pleased with the Hardie products...both aesthetically and structurally. Bravo!"

HardiePlank™ Helps Gulf Coast Residents Make A Stand Against Hurricane Katrina

Even in the midst of widespread devastation there are good news stories to tell. Some people, like Larry Martin and his wife Kim, have been able to return to their home. Larry credits their good fortune to a decision the couple made a few years ago - to build a house with James Hardie siding.

For a local builder like Carl Heitzman, living and working in a small community like Bay St. Louis means he has a very personal responsibility to his clients. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Carl was able to visit many of the houses he'd built and feel satisfied that careful installation of James Hardie siding had paid off.

Outer Banks, North Carolina

"My home is built for hurricane protection, and the siding played a big part in it, as well as a lot of other features in my house that helped me feel pretty safe in staying in my house." - Jo Whitehead - homeowner