tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post1873194136668171405..comments2023-05-24T06:02:06.480-05:00Comments on Chuck's Chatter: The false dichotomy: Tornadoes and home constructionChuck Doswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03099345055614900157noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759913671101666257.post-41794925229764065632012-04-20T12:21:02.447-05:002012-04-20T12:21:02.447-05:00Chuck,
Darn spot on. See: most people think that ...Chuck,<br /><br />Darn spot on. See: most people think that their new homes are built to modern U.S. standards established by the local, stae and federal governments and industry. But what they really are is MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS to make minimum code. Now, changing that code isn't terribly difficult, and I'm NOT suggesting we come up with a ton of new regulations and whatnot (or even any new ones!), but merely to change the ones in place to include a 125 MPH standard. Yes, they ARE more expensive, but not by much to the point where people notice them.<br /><br />The problem, though, is that the homes already built will last 100 years or more (well, most of them, I hope) before they need to be bulldozed or abandoned. And if the latter, they become an even bigger problem, because they become dilapidated and easy to fly apart when even a weak tornado hits them. Of course, with abandoned barns or ones in poor shape all over the place where I live, I understand that too well!<br /><br />And then there's the debris. If you surround your homes with trees, it's shady and homey, but then one flies into your house and even if it could withstand the straight-line wind, a tree will mess up your house very badly.<br />Landscaping needs to be coordinated in this as well!<br /><br />Finally, I'd also like to point out that, in the city I live in, the code is such that the homes are required to have shingles (if it has them, which they usually do) that can withstand 60 MPH winds. Welllllll...(tm Chuck Doswell), we get that to occur in severe thunderstorms or even gradient winds roughly twice a year, on average, around here! And what do you think happens to them? Ahhh, yes. It's always fun around my subdivision after a good storm, seeing who the poor person was who will now have to deal with a mess.<br /><br />But again, the discouraging thing is, it may take years to get this done, and another 100+ years before it's fully implemented in every home. I'm open to any ideas on how to speed that process up. In short, home construction in this country is largely subpar to the weather we experience in much of the country. There is a relatively "easy" fix on the rulebooks, it seems, but in practice and getting it across to lawmakers, welllll....<br /><br />Gilbert Sebenste<br />Staff Meteorologist<br />Northern Illinois UniversityGilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05267525662313103148noreply@blogger.com