Minn. Experts: Garage Doors Can be Weak Point in Tornado Damage

When high winds from tornados and severe storms hit, a house’s garage door can be a weak point.

And sometimes if a garage door goes, it can be the first step in a disastrous chain reaction.

Minnesota has recently moved to require stronger construction standards for doors, but some communities in other states have even stricter standards.

Last year in Minnesota, the state Department of Labor and Industry started requiring garage doors to withstand a 90-mile-per-hour wind gust for three seconds, up from the previous standard of 80 mph.

But tornados often come with much stronger winds. For example, a tornado in Rogers two years ago had 157 mph winds, and the one this year in Hugo had winds reach 167 mph.

At the same time, not all building officials agree that stronger garage doors would make a difference in a tornado.

Latest Comments

• July 9, 2008 at 7:23 am

  Dread says:

  Since tornadoes strike and affect a comparatively small area, the public won't pay the additional money to buy a "super garage door" in the unlikely event they are hit with a ... read more
• July 8, 2008 at 3:09 am

  Tom Wadsworth says:

  Several extensive studies have proven the connection between stronger garage doors and minimizing damage from strong winds. For example, see http://www.doorandaccesssystems.co... read more
• July 8, 2008 at 2:34 am

  MN Agent says:

  Stronger garage doors would not really changed anything in the Hugo storm either. But from what I have seen in other local storms through the years the garage door is the fir... read more