Why the Vilonia AR tornado was not rated EF5: srh.noaa.gov/lzk/?n=anchor0514.htm (H/T Jon Erdman) From the article: Using cut nails to secure homes to the foundation is widely practiced and the minimum standard in most of the building codes. This is according to Dr. David Prevatt, Associate Professor of Civil and Coastal Engineering at the University of Florida. As stated by Dr. Prevatt: It is my opinion that cut nails can only be considered a temporary connection while installing a wall. They are in no way, shape or form have the capacity to resist the sliding loads or the uplift loads reduced by high winds that impact the walls of a building. Without anchor bolts, it took less wind to sweep houses away in Vilonia (Faulkner County). This explains the EF4 (instead of EF5) rating that was ultimately decided upon. In the whole scheme of things, this type of tornado seldom occurs, and its path is fairly narrow (usually less than a mile). The odds are remote that any one location is impacted by such a tornado. While the low risk will settle some stomachs, the absence of anchor bolts does not sit well with Dr. Prevatt: Bottom-line - we either build them (our houses) stronger or communities must accept that certain number of homes randomly selected by natures wrath, will be blown away and kill people in every moderately strong tornado for the foreseeable future.
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 00:01:11 +0000
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