May 2007
by Ted Cushman
Because of the hurricane risk, many coastal states already have tough wind-resistant construction standards, and the rest are moving in that direction. But can structures built to withstand hurricanes offer any protection from tornadoes? The answer, reports contributing editor Ted Cushman, is yes … with a few caveats. While making the whole house safe against a tornado's high wind pressures and its load of fast-moving, heavy projectiles isn't practical, a securely anchored "safe room" that can serve double duty as a tornado shelter and hurricane retreat promises real value on the coast.
First 100 Words:
Blown Away Hurricane-proofing a house won't make it tornado-proof - but it's a start Ted Cushman In the predawn hours of Friday, February 2, 2007, a line of severe thunderstorms plowed across the Florida peninsula, spawning lightning, hail, and three separate tornadoes. Tracking at about a mile a minute, the Groundhog Day tornadoes ripped through three counties, severely damaging or destroying mobile homes, site-built houses, and commercial structures. In the space of a few hours, weather killed 21 people. On March 1, tornadoes struck Alabama. Eight high school students were killed in the town of Enterprise when a twister tore
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