EF0 & EF1 protection isn’t good enough, especially in Oklahoma, most of which State is in the “high risk zone for extreme winds” according to FEMA 320, which also urges a “safe room” for all homes & small businesses in this zone, as well as the moderate risk zone. It’s disingenuous to have a program addressing the risk of “high winds” and hail for regions which are in FEMA 320’s “high risk zone for extreme winds” which includes tornadoes, whose wind speeds can be much higher than a Santa Ana or chinook wind. It’s also not enough to have a sturdy roof in high winds – unless it’s properly attached to the ground by a Continuous Load Path. Without the CLP, your sturdy roof could go sailing off like a Frisbee.
If proper reinforced concrete is used, the opaque part of the building envelope will take an EF3 tornado. Include a “safe room” and most tornadoes are covered. That would be minimum requirement in FEMA’s high risk zone. People don’t get to choose the strength of the tornado that hits their house. The minimum code requirement shouldn’t pretend there is that choice. Needless damage costs others in many ways. To retrofit a wood frame house, you’d have to gut it to the frame and add “hurricane clips” – giving only EF2 stability. Walls would still be vulnerable to debris impacts. I already sent correspondence and more information to John Doak after reading about this program elsewhere yesterday
EF0 & EF1 protection isn’t good enough, especially in Oklahoma, most of which State is in the “high risk zone for extreme winds” according to FEMA 320, which also urges a “safe room” for all homes & small businesses in this zone, as well as the moderate risk zone. It’s disingenuous to have a program addressing the risk of “high winds” and hail for regions which are in FEMA 320’s “high risk zone for extreme winds” which includes tornadoes, whose wind speeds can be much higher than a Santa Ana or chinook wind. It’s also not enough to have a sturdy roof in high winds – unless it’s properly attached to the ground by a Continuous Load Path. Without the CLP, your sturdy roof could go sailing off like a Frisbee.
If proper reinforced concrete is used, the opaque part of the building envelope will take an EF3 tornado. Include a “safe room” and most tornadoes are covered. That would be minimum requirement in FEMA’s high risk zone. People don’t get to choose the strength of the tornado that hits their house. The minimum code requirement shouldn’t pretend there is that choice. Needless damage costs others in many ways. To retrofit a wood frame house, you’d have to gut it to the frame and add “hurricane clips” – giving only EF2 stability. Walls would still be vulnerable to debris impacts. I already sent correspondence and more information to John Doak after reading about this program elsewhere yesterday