For those who think now is not the time to discuss tornado protection -

[hedgehog]

what is the date of the Joplin tornado?

How many people were killed?

how many houses were destroyed?

My point is that we have so much information coming at us each day, it's hard to stay focused. Would the Moore, Oklahoma tornado be as big a story if it hadn't hit a school?

There is a Federal program to provide 75% of the funding to build storm shelters in schools:

http://www.kansas.com/2013/05/21/2812662/wichita-school-district-a-pioneer.html

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1451002518/School-storm-shelters-could-house-20-000-people-as-well-as-students

some quick Googling suggests that there is aid for private residences as well:

http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2/kcx3r120po54v055qykhgevg/151744405222013110309367.PDF

Everyone needs to keep asking right now why storm shelters aren't in place throughout Tornado Alley. I'm uncertain whether the Federal Aid is available before an area is declared a disaster zone. If it isn't, it should be.

[Scuba]

1. We can't talk about gun cont, er, storms now. It's too soon after the shooting, er, storm.

[hedgehog]

2. You inspire me to ask -

when was the Colorado theater shooting? Howe many were killed there?

[Scuba]

7. Shhhh. Don't remind people, they'll forget about that shortly if they haven't already.

[Safetykitten]

3. Well, what I have learned is digging in ground is beyond our current technology.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I have a theory

Let me offer it.

Talking about shelters...means we need to talk of the role of government in our lives. We are also suggesting....evil government mandates.

It makes perfect sense to me, but I live in a state with horrible mandates due to earthquakes.

But I can find a few locally that will regale me with why that is government intrusion.

So yes, you are coming to the point where there is a culture clash.

[hedgehog]

5. I was thinking that this morning - as a New Yorker,

I hear all the time about how business is fleeing the state because of all our regulations and high taxes.

I'm not saying we need every regulation and that every tax dollar is spent wisely but -

We have strict building codes county by county. It costs more to build where I live because the roof must be strong enough to support the weight from the worst snow storm. New construction must meet certain requirements for building insulation.

Oddly enough, the only roof collapses I can recall were at two new big box stores (cough*Walmart*cough).

My county gets something like 130 inches of snow a season, although some storms have been known to dump up to 10 feet over a few days.

The roads are kept open and clear except during the absolute worst storms (several inches an hour) when it's probably not safe to be driving anyways. ( You really should be able to see beyond the hood of the car to drive safely)
Once the snow stops, the roads are cleared in 24 hours (I'm talking residential side streets - the main drags get cleared in a couple of hours.)

I maintain that Upstate New York goes through disasters every winter - but no one notices because government regulations force us to reinforce our buildings and government cleans up promptly after the storm so we all can go about our business.

I don't want to hear "but they know how to handle snow up North". It's not about knowing, it's about having the will to spend the money to get the job done.

I don't want to hear any whining about how it adds several thousand dollars to the cost of a house to build a proper tornado safe room. The extra strong roofs and extra insulation around here aren't free, either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Exactly

And here in Cali we most build to stand up to 7.5 quakes. If I had my way...it be 8.0, and after a few failed with a 7.3 they did building forensics and found, surprise, surprise, they were not up to code.

It costs money to reduce deaths, and mandates.

[Laelth]

8. k&r for some excellent responses in this thread. n/t

-Laelth