Honestly, every year we hear about houses getting destroyed by tornados (and people getting buried under). They seem to be mostly wooden houses. So, why not build concrete houses, atleast in the high risk disaster prone areas?
In: 1750
The concrete hospital in Joplin had to be condemned after being hit by a tornado. Tornadoes can drive a 2×4 through concrete. Houses have entry doors and garage doors and windows, which are weak points that are going to fail. So unless you want to live in a bunker, concrete isn’t a big improvement for a big increase in cost. That’s why you often see a single, small, hardened shelter, preferably underground, instead of hardening the whole house.
The concrete hospital in Joplin had to be condemned after being hit by a tornado. Tornadoes can drive a 2×4 through concrete. Houses have entry doors and garage doors and windows, which are weak points that are going to fail. So unless you want to live in a bunker, concrete isn’t a big improvement for a big increase in cost. That’s why you often see a single, small, hardened shelter, preferably underground, instead of hardening the whole house.
The concrete hospital in Joplin had to be condemned after being hit by a tornado. Tornadoes can drive a 2×4 through concrete. Houses have entry doors and garage doors and windows, which are weak points that are going to fail. So unless you want to live in a bunker, concrete isn’t a big improvement for a big increase in cost. That’s why you often see a single, small, hardened shelter, preferably underground, instead of hardening the whole house.
A wood house built to hurricane standards (extra roof strapping, high wind rated shingles, extra glue and screws everywhere) is totally adequate in tornado zones, and concrete actually doesn’t fare much better. Tornado building codes are far behind hurricane building codes, though, because tornados are rarer and more concentrated or focused. They don’t cause a “wide path of destruction” like a hurricane
A wood house built to hurricane standards (extra roof strapping, high wind rated shingles, extra glue and screws everywhere) is totally adequate in tornado zones, and concrete actually doesn’t fare much better. Tornado building codes are far behind hurricane building codes, though, because tornados are rarer and more concentrated or focused. They don’t cause a “wide path of destruction” like a hurricane
A wood house built to hurricane standards (extra roof strapping, high wind rated shingles, extra glue and screws everywhere) is totally adequate in tornado zones, and concrete actually doesn’t fare much better. Tornado building codes are far behind hurricane building codes, though, because tornados are rarer and more concentrated or focused. They don’t cause a “wide path of destruction” like a hurricane
Tornados routinely destroy brick and concrete buildings too. You’re underestimating the sheer strength of a tornado.
Tornados routinely destroy brick and concrete buildings too. You’re underestimating the sheer strength of a tornado.
Tornados routinely destroy brick and concrete buildings too. You’re underestimating the sheer strength of a tornado.
Vast majority of houses in tornado alley won’t be hit by tornadoes, so cost is usually the determining factor still. No armor is best armor.
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