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Tornados and Wind Zones

The city of Moore, Oklahoma is a "good ole boy" town. The city manager and assistant manager have been there for over 20 years. The local builders won't build in nearby cities; because in Moore they don't even have to meet minimum standards. After the 1999 tornado they adopted special requirements and none were enforced. Adopting more stringent codes and regulations will do nothing to change the practices there. In the community I am now in; every new home in the last year has had storm shelters put in. I will give the local media tv and radio stations credit; they are the best I've ever seen. When bad weather is anywhere in Oklahoma there are weather helicopters and professional storm chasers following every movement and they do a terrific job of making citizens aware of problems. The local tv weather storm chasers and announcers warned of the tornado approaching before it got within 20 miles of Moore. Unfortunately, many were getting off work, the roads were crowded and the debris field was so thick that people just saw what looked like a large storm coming into town; until it was too late. In Oklahoma these tornados and high wind storms are just part of everyday life. Everybody in the metroplex and beyond are out helping, collecting money, providing shelter and food, and clothing; and these people will all be helped. You can adopt codes that require homes to be built like bunkers but if the local authority doesn't enforce it; it just doesn't do any good. These citizens are extremely compassionate and are there for there neighbors. It's a scary place to live and they wouldn't move for anything. It's tragic and yet amazingly wonderful to see these people drop everything and spend their money and time helping each other. You just have to be here to understand it. This state is extremely protective of "citizens personal rights" and you can't regulate them and force them to comply. I've never seen such independence and at the same time how they come together in times of horrific disasters. My two cents, Uncle Bob
 
Uncle Bob said:
The city of Moore, Oklahoma is a "good ole boy" town. The city manager and assistant manager have been there for over 20 years. The local builders won't build in nearby cities; because in Moore they don't even have to meet minimum standards. After the 1999 tornado they adopted special requirements and none were enforced. Adopting more stringent codes and regulations will do nothing to change the practices there. In the community I am now in; every new home in the last year has had storm shelters put in. I will give the local media tv and radio stations credit; they are the best I've ever seen. When bad weather is anywhere in Oklahoma there are weather helicopters and professional storm chasers following every movement and they do a terrific job of making citizens aware of problems. The local tv weather storm chasers and announcers warned of the tornado approaching before it got within 20 miles of Moore. Unfortunately, many were getting off work, the roads were crowded and the debris field was so thick that people just saw what looked like a large storm coming into town; until it was too late. In Oklahoma these tornados and high wind storms are just part of everyday life. Everybody in the metroplex and beyond are out helping, collecting money, providing shelter and food, and clothing; and these people will all be helped. You can adopt codes that require homes to be built like bunkers but if the local authority doesn't enforce it; it just doesn't do any good. These citizens are extremely compassionate and are there for there neighbors. It's a scary place to live and they wouldn't move for anything. It's tragic and yet amazingly wonderful to see these people drop everything and spend their money and time helping each other. You just have to be here to understand it. This state is extremely protective of "citizens personal rights" and you can't regulate them and force them to comply. I've never seen such independence and at the same time how they come together in times of horrific disasters. My two cents, Uncle Bob
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That is quite the dynamics. Maybe this is simply how they choose to live. If they are fiercely independent and essentially don't like being told what to do, yet come together as they do, it may simply be their way of life. If, however, FEMA starts to make some rules that prohibit the release of money like they do in flood area, they may just change their tune knowing big brother government won't be stepping in to help rebuild as they usually do.
 
This is no difference from raising homes above flood zones

If the town wants federal funds they need to mitigate the wind damage and loss of life

What is irresponsible is ICC wind maps showing 90 mph design speeds

Along the coast the wind speed design are in the mid hundreds not 90
 
LGreene said:
Have you seen the approved change to the 2015 IBC that would require storm shelters for new schools and public safety buildings in the 250MPH wind zone? I know it will be a while before we're building to the 2015 IBC but maybe some state or local governments will adopt this requirement sooner: I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » Shelter from the Storm
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The problem is that Oklahoma wind charts show 90 MPH not 250.

That is a big problem and money/politically based

So you and I will continue to subsidize the anti-government people with FEMA handouts

because they are living in denial of reality of 200+ MPH winds

But they are building to code....90 MPH winds
 
So basically they keep repeating themselves in terms of building back structures without the necessary changes to protect life?? I guess if they do not expect any changes in their results then its not insanity? I cant help but think that the general population must believe that when they build back that it must be in a way that will afford them more protection than their previous structure. Sounds like the AHJ and those in the construction industry need to be changed. And the federal government should not continue to pay out for the rebuild if that is the case. Why would the insurance companies not demand that this changes as well?
 
JPohling said:
So basically they keep repeating themselves in terms of building back structures without the necessary changes to protect life?? I guess if they do not expect any changes in their results then its not insanity? I cant help but think that the general population must believe that when they build back that it must be in a way that will afford them more protection than their previous structure. Sounds like the AHJ and those in the construction industry need to be changed. And the federal government should not continue to pay out for the rebuild if that is the case. Why would the insurance companies not demand that this changes as well?
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FEMA is very strict about repeat claims for non-compliance with flood plain ordinances. They may want to start doing the same in all areas other than flooding. I definitely agree with Mark H and the issue of denial.
 
the insurance industry can have more impact than any building code could ..... if they say they won't cover places unless it is constructed to XYZ you either do it or don't have insurance.
 
Tornados and Wind Zones

GBrackins said:
the insurance industry can have more impact than any building code could ..... if they say they won't cover places unless it is constructed to XYZ you either do it or don't have insurance.
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I agree with this statement very much, however , FEMA is another story because people feel as though FEMA should pay them no matter what

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
We in Southern California, with no hurricanes or tornados, have the same BASIC WIND SPEED, according to 2009 IBC FIGURE 1609, as Oklahoma.

Tell me that makes sense.

Once again, ICC and FEMA, have sucume to policical pressure to build on the cheep.

And then asking for Federal handouts to once again, build on the cheep.....
 
Buildings could be built to withstand the 250+ winds of a tornado. They wouldn't look like anything we have seen so far. The expense would dwarf conventional construction costs. Everything from a furnace vent to a patio cover would require some fancy engineering.

The insurance companies love a good disaster. That reinforces their reason for being. People wouldn't gamble with the insurance companies if they never get to win.
 
ICE said:
Buildings could be built to withstand the 250+ winds of a tornado. They wouldn't look like anything we have seen so far. The expense would dwarf conventional construction costs. Everything from a furnace vent to a patio cover would require some fancy engineering. The insurance companies love a good disaster. That reinforces their reason for being. People wouldn't gamble with the insurance companies if they never get to win.
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Why cant the the ICC chart reflect the same numbers as reflected along the gulf coast, mid 100's

Not 90's
 
It was FEMA that insisted on the building above the floodplain. Regardless of ASCE.

But due to pressure, did not insist on the wind speed issues
 
I really don't know where our code info comes from; but, I would think NOAA would know more than anyone since that's what they do; National Weather Service - NWS Portland In central Oklahoma we will have 35 to 65 mph winds at least on a bi-weekly basis. For some reason I can't make paragraphs. Click on above for their info. 15 to 30 mph is normal here.
 
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ICE said:
Can I get that gluten free?
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GLUTEN FREE BROWNIES

YIELD: 12-16 PIECES PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

2 organic eggs

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup unrefined sugar, however I think 1/3 cup would be enough

1/2 tsp baking powder

6 oz dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup almond flour

1/4 cup brown rice flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of Celtic salt

3 Tbsp dark chocolate chips.

1/2 lid pot w/out seeds or stems

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour (I used brown rice flour) a 8x8 inch square baking pan. Alternatively you can use parchment paper.

In a bowl place eggs, sugar, vanilla, olive oil, and crushed pot and mix through. I do this step with a wire whisk but you can use your stand up mixer.

On a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips. You can also use your microwave for this step. Add the melted chocolate to the bowl and combine. Add the flours, salt and baking powder, and with a spatula, fold in until is all incorporated. The mixture would be sort of thick. Place batter in the prepared pan and sprinkle the 3 Tbsp of dark chocolate chips over the batter.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let the brownies cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes otherwise they will crumble all over the place.

Serve as is, with ice cream or a really tall glass of milk!
 
Almost 8 yrs. after Hurricane Katrina, the states of Alabama and Mississippi have still not adopted building codes

statewide. The codes that were adopted in 6 counties along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are not not for High Wind

Areas. They chose to adopt the ICC codes rather than the WFCM.

The cycle just keeps repeating itself!

On a brighter note, the casinos are doing quite well!
 
Big Willie said:
Almost 8 yrs. after Hurricane Katrina, the states of Alabama and Mississippi have still not adopted building codesstatewide. The codes that were adopted in 6 counties along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are not not for High Wind

Areas. They chose to adopt the ICC codes rather than the WFCM.

The cycle just keeps repeating itself!

On a brighter note, the casinos are doing quite well!
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If they adopted the ICC codes and the IRC/IBC references the WFCM in many cases, what is the wind zone for those areas? (almost a trick question)
 
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