hurricane and being destroyed by it, says an architect who just returned from the storm-ravaged eastern Caribbean.

Mr. Steve Osgood of Onions, Bouchard & McCulloch returned recently from surveying damage in Antigua caused by Hurricane Luis, where OBM has an associated office.

He found widespread damage from the storm that hit the eastern Caribbean on September 5. Could Bermuda have suffered similar damage in a direct hit? "There is a difference,'' Mr. Osgood said. "The economy of the eastern Caribbean is on a lower level than Bermuda. The building construction is that much cheaper and flimsier.'' The main exception was "engineered buildings'', like office buildings and hotels, where there has been an architect, an engineer, and a consultant involved. "If you have to design an office building in St. Maarten and Bermuda, there isn't a substantial difference.'' But hotels would often suffer major damage because of their proximity to the shoreline and ocean surge, he said.

"Further back in (away from shore), the issues that arise are very much to do with the details of the building. It's the silly little things like the fixing of the rafters, the fixing of the gutters, and the fixing of the windows.'' "It's like the chain that has a weak link,'' said OBM principal Mr. B.W.

(Jordy) Walker.

Flashing -- metal strips used to prevent water leakage between the junction of a wall and a roof -- that is not pinned down properly can lead to the loss of a roof. "Initially getting it right doesn't cost that much more,'' Mr. Osgood said. "It's the sort of thing a contractor might skimp on if he's not directed.'' "He's going to put a nail in every two feet, instead of every six inches,'' Mr. Walker said. Similarly, windows that are not secured properly will be pushed into a building, allowing in wind and rain which will then cause major damage to walls, ceilings, and contents.

In Antigua, Mr. Osgood found that "the single most significant factor (in leading to major damage) has been glass breakage or the complete failure of windows and doors torn away due to poor fixing,'' he said in a report sent back to Bermuda.

"Free openings on the windward side destroys the relatively low internal pressure that helps the building to resist hurricane forces and once the wind gets inside, roof lift off can quickly follow.'' While poor details could again cause problems, the masonry and stone construction of Bermuda homes meant their ability to withstand a violent storm far exceeded most homes in the Caribbean. Climate was also a factor in Bermuda construction, since Bermuda got much cooler than the Caribbean did.