Tri State Tornado Essay

The worst tornado in U.S. history occurred on March 18, 1925. Tri-State Tornado of 1925 killed 695 people, injured approximately 2,027 people, and caused $16.5 million ($1.4 billion adjusted for 2011) in property damage (Tri-State Tornado Facts and Information, 2015). The tornado traveled 235 miles through Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois and had an average width of 3500 feet. At times the tornado was reached a width of over one mile. The Tri-State Tornado hold the world record for distance traveled and longest lasting at three and a half hours. Although the tornado was not rated, most experts agree that it was an F5 tornado with winds reaching 300 mph and a forward speed of 62 mph (Tri-State Tornado Facts and Information, 2015). The

When a tornado warning is given, people must seek shelter immediately. This is why one of the best way to prepare for a tornado is in building construction. There have been numerous advancements in construction materials and building codes since the Tri-State Tornado. Most experts agree that even a strengthened building code would probably not lead to a home that could survive an EF5 tornado. However, EF5 tornadoes account for less than one-tenth of one percent and 95% of tornadoes are in the lower category EF2 with winds up to 135 mph (McCune, 2013). The use of hurricane ties, metal straps that bind the roof to the walls, and anchor bolts, steel rods embedded in the foundation and bolted to the wall frame, would help building withstand the winds of and EF2 tornado. There is resistance to strengthening building codes as it would add to the cost of new construction. However,the increase in the cost of the building would be offset by the savings of having buildings which are not destroyed (McCune, 2013). Bill Coulbourne, a member of the engineering team that went to Joplin stated, “a relatively large number of buildings could have survived in Joplin if they had been built to withstand hurricane winds” (“New Engineering Study,”