In light of the recent tornadoes moving through the United States, we thought we’d take a look at why more homes aren’t built to withstand the crazy storms. Many homebuilders claim that the likelihood of a single house being ruined by a tornado is too small to make it worth the extra cost.
We’re betting that the people who have been forced to relocate last week due to the twisters will disagree.
So, the answer is simple – and scary. More homes are not built to withstand tornadoes because of the cost. Ok, so we understand that the chances of your house being ripped to shreds by a twister are pretty low, but when it does happen, it can ruin your life. You could lose everything and be forced to move somewhere else. Or, you could lose a loved one.
Looking at the national home-building standards, most homes are built to withstand winds of 90 miles per hour. States that are prone to hurricanes such as Florida and North Carolina have much stricter standards. But, even those standards aren’t rigorous enough to withstand the strong moving winds of a twister. A tornado can hit up to 250 mph.
Builders argue that it is simply impractical to make all homes tornado-proof. And it doesn’t look like things are going to change anytime soon. But, here are some things you can do to protect your home including the following tips:
- Get stronger garage doors.
- Install impact-resistant windows.
- Use stronger roof fastenings.
Jon Huser
