General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOne 'stimulus' project states in Tornado Alley should begin:
The tornadic activity we have seen is going to become the norm IMHO. Some people still have tornado shelters,but many people don't. They were just not built with homes after a while.
I would recommend that a program be started to either pay for or help people pay for the installation of tornado shelters. There are many pre-fab types available, and many of them are made in the USA.
These are examples from just one company:
http://www.stormandtornadosheltersoftx.com/index.html
They make them that will hold up to 50 people.
I am not recommending this company. There are many examples if you do a search.
If this was done, planning their installation would be critical. Think twice. Dig once.
These mega-storms that contain huge tornadoes and a lot of them are not going away. While there should also be wind-resistant building principles applied in any new structures, none of them can withstand a major storm. Shelters would mitigate loss of human life.
2on2u
(1,843 posts)sort of construction..... something like a dome home.
http://suite101.com/article/dome-homes-provide-increased-tornado-protection-a380501
A thin shell concrete dome home can withstand winds of 400 mph according to Dr. Arnold Wilson retired professor of civil engineering at Brigham Young University. This wind velocity is greater than that produced by a F-5 tornado. Domes have survived without damage in the path of an F-4 tornado that demolished traditional square wood frame homes.
Domes Provide Organic Tornado Damage Resistance
The dome shape is by nature aerodynamically resistant to wind damage or lifting from its foundation in a tornado. It also provides substantial protection from tornado driven debris. At Monolithic Dome Institute (MDI), Gary Clark test-fired a 30-06 rifle into the side of a Monolithic Dome and the high-powered rifle slug did not penetrate the structure. A 30-06 slug travels at 2800 fps or 1,900 mph and exceeds the velocity of tornado driven debris. If the concrete dome shell will withstand a bullet, it will withstand wind driven hard objects as well. According to the Fujita scale of measuring tornadoes, an F-5 tornado will have winds of 261-318 mph.
According to a report to the Monolithic Dome Institute; on April 27, 2011, an F3 tornado, with winds between 158-206 mph, hit the town of Durant, Mississippi, including the dome home and garage of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Avery. The winds blew over 100 year old Beech and Hickory trees that were not able to withstand the winds, but the home was undamaged.
Read more at Suite101: Dome Homes Provide Increased Tornado Protection | Suite101.com http://suite101.com/article/dome-homes-provide-increased-tornado-protection-a380501#ixzz1xToqnRAX