Increase Tornado Protection As Your Rebuild
Contact: Wendy Fontaine
Date: 11/19/2002
Tampa - Residents and business owners recovering from recent tornadoes in several states can help their property better withstand damage from future events by rebuilding wisely, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
While most buildings are not meant to withstand the direct impact of a severe tornado, good construction choices can give added protection against these windstorms.
Structures built to meet or exceed current model building code high-wind requirements have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms. This type of construction is commonplace in hurricane-prone areas, but should also be considered by anyone who wants to increase their property’s protection against tornadoes, no matter where they live.
Contractors or builders should pay particular attention to the windows, doors, roofing, gables and connections (roof-to-wall, wall-to-foundation). Homes in inland areas are not traditionally built to withstand wind speeds that exceed 70 mph, and weaknesses in these parts of the house make it more vulnerable to significant damage.
Information about increased protection from windstorms is available free from IBHS. “Protect Your Home Against Tornado Damage” and “Is Your Home Protected From Hurricane Disaster?” are available on the IBHS web site www.disastersafety.org, or you can request single copies of the publications by calling toll free 1(866) 657-IBHS (4247).
Business owners can find assistance for the recovery process by reading “Getting Back to Business – A Guide for the Small Business Owner Following Disaster” on the IBHS web site, or by calling IBHS. “Open for Business… a Disaster Planning Toolkit for the Small Business Owner” is an online-only IBHS publication that can help businesses enact a disaster plan, or assess their risks and evaluate their current plan.
IBHS is a national, non-profit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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