A general method is shown here to model wind loads and responses for reliability applications. This method characterizes the short-term loads and responses by a few summary statistics: specifically, by a limited number of statistical moments. A suite of moment-based models are derived and applied here, illustrating how this statistical moment information can best be utilized. Two examples are shown: the fatigue analysis of a wind turbine component, and the vibration response of a fixed structure to nonlinear wind drag loads. [S0199-6231(00)00702-4].