Is this a good time to talk about mandatory building codes for tornado prone areas? nt

[Electric Monk]

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

1. Does the technology exist for that?

Not sure there is much you can do is there?

[quinnox]

2. I know nothing about it but I would hope

there are some building codes/standards in tornado prone areas. Especially for schools.

[lapfog_1]

3. Technology exists to create tornado proof safe rooms.

and I am thinking they could change the building codes for schools to create a shared safe room for every two classrooms. They could double as "lock down" rooms for shootings and other things that now plague our schools.

But even a well constructed safe room can't protect you against every EF5+ tornado... but it is better than just heading for the hallway and hoping.

[Wait Wut]

4. I don't think so.

Let the dust settle. Find the survivors.

But, yes, it does need to be discussed. I'm not sure what they could've done. I've been reading that basements/cellars aren't always possible in the Midwest. I was surprised to hear that. I was born and raised in Chicago. We always had basements.

[1KansasDem]

5. Like you're going to mandate

people in OK.,KS.,TX.,MO. build houses to withstand 200 winds?
Don't think so.

[txwhitedove]

7. As former Okie who grew up with tornado alerts, sirens & drills, thank you for reasonable answer.

[Wait Wut]

8. I doubt that's what he's suggesting.

Public shelters, schools, etc. New construction. All could possibly be built to a higher code. There's nothing wrong with discussing the possibilites.

[Major Nikon]

18. For every F5 tornado there are hundreds which aren't

[justiceischeap]

6. After the May 3, 1999 tornado that hit the same town

codes were upgraded but unless you have an underground bunker, when something that huge comes in a buildings path, there's nothing that's going to stand up to it.

[1KansasDem]

10. Agree 100%

The "safe rooms" that are build into a lot of new construction in "tornado ally" won't withstand a direct hit from an e4.

[justiceischeap]

16. Not much will. It reminds me of that line from the movie Twister

"What's an F5?"

"The hand of God."

[Yo_Mama]

22. What will?

The only thing is to be out of its path, which is why underground saves you. Not that people haven't been sucked right out of basements before.

[former9thward]

9. A majority of the country is tornado prone.

Building codes exist almost everywhere. They existed in Moore, OK

[Tien1985]

11. No, not really.

Let's have a week to mourn before we start the enevitable bickering.

[Warpy]

12. Well, for schools, certainly, either hardened rooms or storm shelters.

It would be nice to mandate storm shelters but Oklahoma isn't noted for its lavish wages and a lot of people are barely able to afford the house or even trailer. Having somebody come out with a backhoe to dig a shelter is beyond them.

However, there should be neighborhood shelters mandated for all new developments. That would help.

Storm shelters in this one didn't help much if it was a direct hit, the winds tearing the doors right off their hinges in many cases.

[Electric Monk]

14. sure

[Downwinder]

13. Shouldn't the same be true for hurricane prone areas?

[Electric Monk]

15. sure

[LadyHawkAZ]

17. Don't they have any?

I've never lived in a tornado-prone area, but I've lived most of my life in earthquake country and there are codes for that. I had assumed there were codes for tornadoes as well.

[nebenaube]

19. include reststops on the freeway as well... n/t

[Nye Bevan]

20. No (nt)

[Skip Intro]

21. Were you prevented from talking about it before now?

Were you waiting on a good time to bring it up?

Don't get your phrasing.