US20090049758A1

US20090049758A1 - System and method for decreasing susceptibility of a roof structure to hurricane forces

Info

Publication number: US20090049758A1
Application number: US11/843,960
Authority: US
Inventors: Jason Thomas Leonard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-23
Filing date: 2007-08-23
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for decreasing the susceptibility of a roof structure to extreme weather events, such as the wind related forces generated by a hurricane. In one embodiment, the ability of a roof structure to resist forces generated by extreme weather events may be improved by installing a bracing rod into the interior of a roof structure with the bracing rod positioned through the open spaces of a series of roof trusses, then attaching one end of securing member to the bracing rod. Securing an anchoring device in the ground, and linking a connecting member at one end to the securing member attached to the bracing rod and a second end of the connecting member to the anchoring device secured in the ground.

Description

FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of systems and methods applied to the roof structure of a building to improve its resistance to weather related forces and natural disasters.

BACKGROUND

Modern technology has provided the ability for meteorologists to predict impending hurricanes and give potential victims advance warning. Other meteorological events such as tornadoes, microbursts and the like can also be observed and sometimes predicted.
Despite the ability to predict the onslaught of a destructive meteorological event, destruction of property and cost in human life remains unacceptably high. Consequently, many people living in those geographic areas that are subject to destructive weather related forces, employ various methods to protect their property from the damaging forces of these weather related events.
A roof structure of a building is especially susceptible to wind forces associated with meteorological events. Roof structures commonly have a very large surface area compared with their total weight, shear strength, and resistance to vertical lift. Many roof structures, especially residential types, are mostly hollow and are held fast to a building primarily by gravity, through their own weight. A roof structure, in addition to keeping out the elements, also adds rigidity to the exterior walls, preventing them from falling inward or outward. The overall structural integrity of a building is severely compromised when its roof structure is not present.
Consequently, many people in geographic areas associated with abnormally high wind events employ various measures to ensure that a roof structure remains in place even when confronted with severe weather. Winds associated with hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, windshear events, and the like commonly produce wind speeds well in excess of 100 miles per hour. These winds create forces on a building and its roof structure that may be above and beyond the designed limits. In particular, high speed winds can generate a lifting force tending to pull, lift, or blow a roof off of a building. Winds hitting the sides of a building tend to swoop upwards and push the roof up on an exposed lip, while winds traveling over the roof at high speeds tend to create a vacuum effect, proportionally stronger with increasing wind speed, that can detach a lighter roof structure from a heavier building, removing it partially or completely.
Once the roof structure of a building is pulled, lifted, or blown away, the interior of the building is exposed to rain, further winds, and debris taken up by the storm. Worse yet, the entire building itself it at risk of total collapse as the now unsupported walls are further subject to horizontal wind forces causing them to collapse inward or outward.
Known prior art system methods to reduce the susceptibility of a building from the damaging forces of weather related events include boarding up windows, use of reinforcing clips, and the installation of reinforcing foam.
A common and relatively inexpensive means of protecting a home from the damaging forces of extreme weather is to “board up” a building by fastening sheets of plywood over the windows of the building. This method helps prevent windows from breaking due to flying debris, and protects the interior of the building from further damage owing to additional debris and water entering the building through a broken window. This method however does little to protect against the vertical lift or vacuum like forces on a roof structure from high speed winds.
Reinforcing clips are commonly used, and often required by building codes in hurricane and tornado prone areas. The clips are typically constructed of metal alloys and are nailed into the supporting wall of a building and then further nailed to a roof joist or truss, physically connecting the roof to the building through the metal clip. These roofing clips however, have proven to be ineffective given strong enough wind forces. The point of attachment via the nails is a weak point and can tear out, or the clip itself may fail due to inadequate shear strength or tensile strength. The strength of any given clip is rated in pullout pounds. The pullout strength however is subject to many factors including the quality and strength of the attached materials, commonly wood products, the length, strength, and diameter of screws or nails fastening the clip, whether or not the clip was installed properly, and the frequency, spacing, and quantity of clips connecting a roof structure to a building. The clips, though simple in theory, have many potential weak points, and thus are known to fail. Moreover, the installation of roof clips in a preexisting structure is cost prohibitive because installers must remove interior drywall or plaster to gain access to the installation point.
Reinforcing foam, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,327 issued to Merser, et al., is sometimes used. This reinforcing foam provides additional surface tension/adhesion between the plywood covering the roof structure and the trusses or roof rafters. A foam bead is installed on each side of a rafter in the corner where the rafter meets the plywood and when the foam cures, the plywood resists a vacuuming effect through the nail or screw fasteners holding the plywood to the rafter, and additionally through the increased adhesive surface area along each side of each treated rafter. While this method helps prevent the plywood covering a roof structure from being torn away from the rafters, it does nothing to prevent the roof structure as a whole being lifted entirely from a building. Such loss of an entire roof structure can occur given enough vertical lift or vacuum type force.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for decreasing the susceptibility of a roof structure to extreme weather events, such as the wind related forces generated by a hurricane. In one embodiment, the ability of a roof structure to resist forces generated by extreme weather events may be improved by installing a bracing rod into the interior of a roof structure with the bracing rod positioned through the open spaces of a series of roof trusses, then attaching one end of securing member to the bracing rod. Securing an anchoring device in the ground, and linking a connecting member at one end to the securing member attached to the bracing rod and a second end of the connecting member to the anchoring device secured in the ground.
Other features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, and from the detailed description, that follows below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a roof structure and building having an embodiment of the present invention installed therein. In particular, a roof structure is shown secured in earth by means of a bracing rod, securing member, and a connecting member attached with an anchoring device.

FIG. 2A illustrates a face view of a roof structure having a bracing rod installed therein, positioned through the openings of a plurality of trusses and resting above and perpendicular to each roof joist making up the plurality of trusses in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2B illustrates an end view of the roof structure of FIG. 2A having the bracing rod installed therein in accordance with a particular embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates one end of a securing member looped over, around, and then under a bracing rod, and then reconnected with itself in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process having steps, some optional, by which a roof structure is secured to the ground in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Architects, contractors, builders, engineers, and real property owners all desire to have buildings and structures that will withstand harmful environmental effects such as ultraviolet radiation, rain, insects, ground moisture, and wind. It is desirable to construct a building that will withstand such environmental effects for as long as possible, however, as the use of improved building materials and methods are employed, the cost of erecting a building can typically be expected to increase. Therefore, real property owners must balance the desired durability of a building with the cost of erecting, maintaining, or retrofitting the building.
Some real property owners place a premium on certain durability characteristics of a building over others. For example, in Hawaii, the use of moisture and insect resistant materials are employed in preference to lower cost materials. In California, building methods that improve a building's resistance earthquake damage are commonly used, despite their higher cost, and lastly, people living in tornado and hurricane prone areas seek out and employ various systems, materials, and methods believed to improve a building's resistance to damaging forces associated with these metrological events.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a system and method is employed to secure a roof structure to the ground. In this embodiment, a bracing rod, such as a steel pipe is installed into the roof structure of a building. The bracing rod is positioned through a series of trusses so that it distributes its loads across the trusses. The bracing rod rests in a lower inside corner of each of the trusses on the side nearest the exterior of the building. A securing member, such as a strong nylon strap is then looped around the bracing rod and attached to itself creating a looped end having the bracing rod within the interior space of the loop.
In this embodiment, the other end of the securing member is attached to a ring designed securely link with and hold a hook. The other end of the securing member and the attached ring is positioned over the tie beam of the supporting wall and placed just outside of the building beneath the underside of the roof structure and near the top of the exterior supporting wall. The securing member or nylon strap is pulled taunt and is designed to such a length that a hook can be attached to the ring from outside the building, but not so long that the securing member is unnecessarily exposed to environmental elements or is easily visible from casual observers.
An anchoring device, such as a long stainless steel rod or cable with a triangular anchor is secured in earth, e.g. buried in the ground. The anchoring device also has a connecting ring designed to securely link with and hold a hook. A connecting member, such as an adjustable length nylon strap, (e.g. a nylon strap similar to those used on semi trucks to fasten cargo to the trailer), is used to link the securing member, connected with the bracing rod, to the anchoring device, buried in the ground. The adjustable length nylon strap has a hook on each of its two ends and a ratcheting tool integrated on the strap to shorten or lengthen the nylon strap. One of the nylon strap's hooks is linked through the ring attached with the securing member and the second of the nylon strap's hooks is linked through the ring attached to the anchoring device.
Lastly, the nylon strap is ratcheted down using the ratcheting tool shortening the strap and increasing its tension. This results in the roof structure itself being anchored to the ground by way of the bracing rod connected with the securing member which is linked to the connecting member and finally to the anchoring device. Having the roof secured to the ground in such a manner may decrease the susceptibility of the roof structure to vacuum, vertical lift, uplift, and horizontal or shearing type forces exhibited by extreme weather events. This improved resistance to weather related forces should be realized regardless of other hurricane methods or systems employed contemporaneously in the same building and roof structure. If other systems are employed in the same building and roof structure, the present embodiment should result in a complimentary benefit to the building and roof structure's resistance to weather related forces, especially abnormally high wind speeds. Moreover, this embodiment may be retrofitted into an existing building and roof structure or installed into new construction without having to tear out drywall or plaster, thus reducing the cost of ownership associated with such a system.
Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “another embodiment,” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in another embodiment,” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may be. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
Moreover, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.
Refer now to FIG. 1 illustrating a side view of a roof structure 101 and building 102 having an embodiment of the present invention installed therein. In particular, a roof structure 101 is shown secured to earth 165 by means of a bracing rod 120, securing member 125, and a connecting member 130 attached with an anchoring device 135. For sake of clarity, building 102 and roof structure 101 are illustrated and described below to help convey how the system 100 may be installed and positioned, however, the roof structure itself 101, including the trusses, rafters, and joists, do not form any part of the present invention.
Building 102 is built upon the ground or earth 165 and consists of the interior floor 103, the supporting wall which sits on the floor 103 and has two sides, the interior supporting wall 185 face and the exterior supporting wall 180 face. The tie beam 195 sits atop the interior and exterior supporting wall 180-185 and aids in keeping the roof structure 101 attached to the building 102. In particular, the tie beam 195 is connected with the roof joists 110. The roof joists 110 and the roof rafters 115 form trusses 105, commonly triangular shaped roof elements. The interior ceiling 190 is attached to the bottom side of the roof joists 110 to create a solid appearance of a ceiling inside the building 102. Shingles 199 lie atop the roof structure 101 protecting the building from the environment. These elements, making up a building 102 and roof structure 101, are typical of residential construction and many commercial or industrial designs and represent a typical installation site for system 100, but are not elements of system 100.
In accordance with one embodiment as illustrated by FIG. 1, and the method of FIG. 4, a system 100 is disclosed comprising a bracing rod 120 to be installed through the trusses 105 of a new or existing roof structure 101 (FIG. 4, steps 405 and 410). A securing member 125 to be connected with the bracing rod 120 at one end and to be further connected with a connecting member 130 at the other end by way of a connecting ring 155 attached to the securing member 125 and a hook 145 attached to the connecting member. The connecting member 130 is in turn to be connected with an anchoring device 135 by way of a second hook 150 attached to the connecting member 130 and a connecting ring 160 attached to the anchoring device 135. The connecting member 130 has a ratchet tool 140 integrated thereon. The anchoring device 135 is to be secured in earth 165 (FIG. 4, step 425), buried to a depth 175 calculated to provide sufficient pullout strength for the application. The anchoring device 135 is aided by an anchoring blade 170 connected therewith, increasing the pullout strength of the anchoring device 135.
The anchoring device 135 used can be of any type sufficient to meet the required pull strength of the application. More than one system 100 may be installed on a single building 102, and each system 100 installed increases the vertical lift necessary to detach the roof structure 101 from the building 102. Thus, the more systems 100 installed on a single building 102, the lower the pullout strength required from each anchoring device 135. In one embodiment, four systems 100 are installed on a single building 102, and each anchoring device has, for example, an 8″ (inch) anchoring blade 170 attached therewith, buried 5′ (feet) deep into the earth, the anchoring device itself being a 5′ (foot) long stainless steel cable connected with the anchoring blade 170 on the deepest end, and a connecting ring 160 on its upper most end. Such an anchoring device 135 is commercially available from American Earth Anchors (™), and is advertised to provide 4000 LBS (pounds) of pullout force per anchoring device 135. The four systems 100 installed securing the roof structure 101 to the ground would thus provide a total of 16,000 LBS (pounds) of resistance to vertical lift or a vacuum effect for the roof structure 101 as a whole. This example may or may not be sufficient for a given application, but illustrates how additional installed systems 100 can reduce the total pullout force required per installed system 100.
Anchoring devices 135 may be of many conceivable types, including cement blocks connected with cables, or steel shafts, larger or smaller anchoring blades 170 connected with shafts, rods, or cables, or even an anchoring device 135 without an anchoring blade 170 having sufficient depth into earth or dead weight to provide the necessary resistance to pullout force. A large concrete block weighing 4000 pounds could be used to provide the requisite resistance to vertical lift as an anchoring device 135. An anchoring device 135 can further be buried deeper or shallower than the relative depth 175 illustrated in FIG. 1. As the depth 175 increases, the pullout strength of the anchoring device 135 increases. Likewise, the anchoring device 135 could be secured in concrete or another material, rather than dirt as illustrated, and still be considered to be secured in earth 165. In a particular embodiment, a 6′ (foot) steel rod is welded to a 1′ (foot) square plate and buried 10′ (feet) deep in concrete for use as an anchoring device 135.
The anchoring device 135 may have one end partially above the ground exposing its connecting ring 160 or other connection mechanism, or it may be installed flush with, or below ground level and protected by a removable cover. In one embodiment, a plastic cap is placed over the connecting ring 160 attached to the anchoring device 135, the plastic cap placed flush with the ground. In a particular embodiment, the top of the anchoring device 135 is flush with the ground and the connecting ring 160 attached thereto is above ground.
A connecting ring 160 and hook 150 is illustrated linking the connecting member 130 to the anchoring device 135, but any coupling mechanism may be used. The hook 150 allows the connecting member 130 to be removably connected with the anchoring device 135, thus allowing the connecting member 130 to be removed and stored elsewhere when not in use. Permanent coupling mechanisms may also be used in place of the connecting ring 160 and the hook 150. Other examples of coupling mechanisms include a bolt and nut system, two hooks, or two connecting rings welded together. In one embodiment, a quick release chain link that has an integrated nut to thread on and off of itself is used to link the connecting member 130 to the anchoring device 135 so that the system 100 cannot be removed without manual intervention. In an alternative embodiment, a keyed padlock is used to link a connecting ring attached to the connecting member 130 to the connecting ring 160 attached to the anchoring device 135.
Similarly, the hook 145 on the top most end of the connecting member shown linking to the connecting ring 155 of the securing member may be of any type of coupling mechanism. In one embodiment, a chain having a tensile strength rated above the pullout strength of the anchoring device 135 is used to permanently link the connecting member 130 to the securing member 125.
The connecting member 130 is used to span the distance between the anchoring device 135 and the securing member 125. As shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment, the connecting member 130 is a 2″ (inch) nylon strap having a tensile strength above that of the anchoring device 135. A connecting member 130 having a tensile strength rated below the anchoring device 135 may be used, however it may then be the weakest link of the system 100, and the tensile strength of the weaker connecting member 130 should be used to calculate the total resistance to vertical lift for the roof structure 101 rather than the pullout strength of the anchoring device 135.
The connecting member 130 may be of various materials, including metal, metal alloys, synthetic fabrics, plastics, and so on. In one embodiment, a steel rod is used as the connecting member 130. In another embodiment, a synthetic rope is used. In yet another embodiment, a steel linked chain is used.
The connecting member 130 may further be adjustable in length by various means. The connecting member shown has a ratchet tool 140 integrated thereon. In a particular embodiment, the ratchet tool is used to ratchet the two ends of the connecting member 130 nearer each other decreasing the length of the connecting member 130 and increasing the tension on the connecting member 130 (FIG. 4, step 440), after the connecting member 130 is linked between the securing member 125 and the anchoring device 135. In another embodiment, a come along tool is integrated into a steel chain used as a connecting member 130, and the come along tool is used to reduce the length of the steel chain. In an alternative embodiment, a mechanically advantaged pulley system is integrated into a synthetic rope employed as a connecting member 130 and used to reduce the span of the synthetic rope between the securing member 125 and the anchoring device 135. In a particular embodiment a ratchet tool 140 is separate from the connecting member 130 and attached temporarily to reduce the length of the connecting member 130 and then removed after the reduced length has been fixed.
In one embodiment, the connecting member 130 is to be removably attached to the securing member 125 and further to the anchoring device 135. In another embodiment, the connecting member 130 is to be permanently linked between the securing member 125 and the anchoring device 135. In an alternative embodiment, the connecting member 130 is unlinked from the securing member 125 and the anchoring device 135 and stored elsewhere, for example in a garage attached to the building 102. In yet another embodiment, a first hook 145 attached to the connecting member 130 is linked to one end of the securing member 125 (FIG. 4, step 430), and a second hook 150 attached to the connecting member 130 is linked to a connecting ring 160 attached to the anchoring device 135 (FIG. 4, step 435).
Refer now to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A illustrates a face view of a roof structure 200 having a bracing rod 120 installed therein, positioned through the openings of a plurality of trusses 105 and resting above and perpendicular to each roof joist 110 making up the plurality of trusses 105 in accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 2B illustrates an end view of the roof structure 200 of FIG. 2A having the bracing rod 120 installed therein, in accordance with a particular embodiment.
Trusses 105 are made up of joists 110 and rafters 115. Secured to the top of the roof structure 200, to the rafters 115 in particular, are plywood sheets 215. On top of the plywood sheets 215 is a moisture barrier 210, such as tar paper. Nailed to the plywood 215 through the moisture barrier 210 are shingles 199. This description constitutes a typical roof structure 200 on a residential building 102. Commercial and industrial buildings commonly have similar components. Sometimes roof structures 200 have steel or fiberglass or tar in place of the shingles 199, but such variances have no effect on the present invention.
Illustrated via FIG. 2 is a bracing rod 120 positioned in the corners 205 of a series of trusses 105. The bracing rod shown is positioned interior to each truss lying above and perpendicular to each joist 110 making up each truss 105 and beneath each rafter 115 making up the trusses 105. In one embodiment, the bracing rod is positioned in the corner 205 of the truss 105 nearest the exterior of the roof structure 200 and the exterior of the building 102. The bracing rod rests in the corner 205 where the joist 110 connects with the rafter 115 partially forming a truss 105.
A bracing rod positioned in this manner distributes its load or force across multiple trusses and may decrease the shear strength of each individual truss required to prevent the bracing rod 120 from breaking though the truss 105 interior. The bracing rod 120 may be placed across as few as two trusses or as many trusses as there are on one edge or linear plane of a roof structure 200. The bracing rod 120 may be positioned in other places, such as on the exterior of the roof structure 200, behind a series of king posts, in, on, or behind a mounting block attached to each joist 110 or rafter 115, or elsewhere. In one embodiment, the bracing rod is 12.5′ (feet) in length and spans 6 trusses spaced 24″ (inches) on center apart. In another embodiment, the bracing rod 120 is 6.5′ (feet) in length and is positioned to span multiple trusses 105.
The bracing rod 120 shown is cylindrical in shape, however other shapes may be used. Square, triangle, or rectangular bracing rods are contemplated. In one embodiment, an “L” shaped bracing rod, such as angle iron, is fastened to the joists 110 or rafters 115 in the corners 205 of the trusses 105 via nails or screws.
The bracing rod can be solid or hollow, and may be made of various materials such as metals, metal alloys, natural materials such as wood, or synthetic materials such as plastic dowels. The bracing rod 120 may be rated to withstand lateral forces equal to or greater than the pull out strength of the anchoring device 135. Bracing rods 120 having a lateral force resistance rating less than the pull out strength of the anchoring device may be the weak link of an installed system 100 and their rating of resistance to lateral forces should be used to calculate the total resistance to vertical lift for a roof structure 200 or 101 of an installed system 100.
In one embodiment, the bracing rod 120 is a solid steel bar greater than 1.5″ (inches) in diameter. In another embodiment, the bracing rod 120 is a wooden 4×4 lumber. In another embodiment, the bracing rod 120 is a synthetic plastic dowel greater than 2″ (inches) in diameter. The larger the diameter and the lesser of a void or hollowness of the bracing rod 120, the greater the resistance to lateral for the bracing rod 120.
Refer now to FIG. 3 illustrating one end of a securing member 125 looped over 305, around, and then under 310 a bracing rod 120, and then reconnected with itself 315 in accordance with an embodiment if the invention.
As shown in FIG. 3 and the method of FIG. 4, the bracing rod 120 described previously and installed or secured within the roof structure 101 of a building 102 is used to hold the securing member 125 in place. For the sake of simplicity, the roof structure 101 is not shown in FIG. 3. In accordance with one embodiment, one end of a securing member 125, such as a nylon strap is looped around and perpendicular to the bracing rod 120, forming a new looped end 300 (FIG. 4, step 415). The one end of the securing member 125 is then fastened 315 to a middle portion of the securing member 125 as shown (FIG. 4, step 420). This process creates the new looped end 300 of the securing member 125 having a void or hole in the center thereof, allowing the bracing rod 120 to be passed through the center of the looped end 300, or rest within the void or hole of the new looped end 300 of the securing member 125.
The method of installing the securing member 125 to the bracing rod 120 may be accomplished in various ways. In one embodiment, the securing member 125 is fastened 315 to itself at a manufacturer and then placed into position within the roof structure 101 prior to the bracing rod 120 being installed. The looped end 300 of the securing member 125 rests in between two trusses 105 near the corners 205 at, or closest to, the exterior supporting wall 180. The bracing rod 120 is then installed by passing one end of the bracing rod 120 through a first truss 105 then through the looped end 300 of the securing member 125, and then through a second truss 105.
In an alternative embodiment, the bracing rod 120 is installed first or contemporaneously with the securing member 125, and the securing member 125 is then looped around the bracing rod 120 and fastened to itself 315 at installation time using nuts and bolts. In another embodiment, the securing member 125 is fastened 315 to itself via clamps. In yet another embodiment, the securing member is fused to itself by partial melting via a heat source. In still another embodiment, the securing member 125 is looped around the bracing rod 120 and both ends of the securing member 125 are placed on the exterior of the building, and both ends are then secured to the hook 145 of the connecting member 130 via two connecting rings 155.
The securing member 125 can be various types of materials. For example, the securing member 125 can be a nylon strap, a metallic bar, a steel chain, a synthetic rope, a metallic strap, and so on. In one embodiment, the securing member 125 is a 2″ (inch) wide and 18″ (inch) long nylon strap with a connecting ring 155 attached to one end, and a loop 300 at the other end, the loop 300 created by sewing the end without the connecting ring 155 to a middle portion of the nylon strap.
While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting. Moreover, many of the embodiments disclosed make reference to a single system 100 installed in a roof structure 101, however, multiple systems 100 may be installed on a single roof structure 101 in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a bracing rod to be installed interior to a roof structure of a building, the bracing rod to be positioned through a plurality of trusses;

a securing member having a first end to be attached to the bracing rod interior to the roof structure and having a second end to be positioned exterior to the building;

an anchoring device to be secured in earth; and

a connecting member having a first linkage to be removably attached with the second end of the securing member and a second linkage to be removably attached with the anchoring device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bracing rod comprises a metallic bar.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the bracing rod to be positioned through the plurality of trusses comprises the metallic bar to rest above and perpendicular to a plurality of roof joists of the plurality of trusses and to rest beneath a plurality of roof rafters of the plurality of trusses.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the metallic bar to rest in a corner of each of the plurality of trusses where the roof joist and roof rafter of each truss meet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the securing member having a first end to be attached to the bracing rod comprises a nylon strap to be looped around the bracing rod and fastened to itself.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the nylon strap to be looped around the bracing rod and fastened to itself comprises the nylon strap to be sewn to itself, riveted to itself, bolted to itself, or clamped to itself, to form a loop in the nylon strap and to have the bracing rod pass through the interior of the loop.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the securing member having the second end to be positioned exterior to the building comprises the end of the nylon strap opposite the loop to be positioned beneath the underside of the roof structure and over a supporting exterior wall of the building.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the anchoring device comprises a stainless steel cable having attached thereto an anchoring blade on a first end buried in the earth, and having further attached thereto a metallic ring at a second end above the earth.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first linkage of the connecting member comprises a first hook, the first hook to be removably attached to a metallic ring attached to the second end of the securing member, and wherein the second linkage of the connecting member comprises a second hook, the second hook to be removably attached with the anchoring device via the metallic ring at the second end of the anchoring device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the connecting member is adjustable in length.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the connecting member comprises one of an adjustable length steel cable, an adjustable length nylon strap, or an adjustable length multi section metallic bar.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the connecting member is adjustable in length via a come along tool, a ratcheting tool, a threaded bolt and nut system, a pulley system, or a lever tensioner.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the bracing rod is between 48 and 144 inches in length and between 0.75 and 2.5 inches in diameter;

the securing member is between 12 and 36 inches in length; and

the anchoring device is between 4 and 8 feet in length, to be secured in earth by burying more than 75% of its length, and no more than 30 degrees off its vertical axis.

14. A method comprising:

installing a bracing rod into the interior of a roof structure, the bracing rod positioned through a plurality of trusses within the roof structure;

attaching a first end of a securing member to the bracing rod;

securing an anchoring device in earth; and

linking a second end of the securing member with the anchoring device via a connecting member, the connecting member having a first linkage removably attached with the second end of the securing member and a second linkage removably attached with the anchoring device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein installing the bracing rod into the interior of a roof structure comprises resting the bracing rod in an inside corner of each of the plurality of trusses where a roof joist and roof rafter of each of the plurality of trusses meet, the bracing rod resting above and perpendicular to each roof joist making up the plurality of trusses and beneath each roof rafter making up the plurality of trusses.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the connecting member comprises an adjustable length strap having a ratchet tool integrated therewith, the method further comprising:

ratcheting the adjustable length strap via the ratchet tool to decrease the length and increase the tension of the adjustable length strap.

17. A system comprising:

means for installing a bracing rod within the interior of a roof structure, the bracing rod positioned through a plurality of trusses within the roof structure;

means for attaching a first end of a securing member to the bracing rod;

means for securing an anchoring device in earth; and

means for linking a second end of the securing member with the anchoring device via a connecting member.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for distributing loads on the bracing rod across the plurality of trusses.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the connecting member comprises a first end having a first hook connected therewith and a second end having a second hook connected therewith;

the second end of the securing member comprises a first connecting ring; and

the anchoring device comprises a second connecting ring.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for linking the second end of the securing member with the anchoring device via the connecting member comprises:

means for removably coupling the first hook of the connecting member with the first connecting ring of the securing member;

means for removably coupling the second hook of the connecting member with the second connecting ring of the anchoring device; and wherein the system further comprises:

means for decreasing the length and increasing the tension of the connecting member linking the second end of the securing member with the anchoring device.