Despite months of front-page Hurricane Katrina news coverage in 2005, building codes and enforcement practices continue to vary greatly. Moreover, surprisingly little is known about how hurricane winds pull apart and drive rain into homes — and what affordable measures can seal them tight. Plus, existing homes — which comprise the majority of the coastal housing stock — may have few (if any) of the hurricane protections standard in new homes. Fortunately, a small community of building scientists at universities and in the public sector is working to close at least some of these gaps. As Aaron Hoover reports, current hurricane research points the way to practical improvements for coastal homes.