TAC Central => Lobby => Topic started by: 5th T/A on December 12, 2021, 10:26:12 AM
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My thoughts and prayers to all of those who have been impacted by the massive tornado Friday. For many of the survivors life will never be the same. In my lifetime weather forecasting has come along way, with still room to improve. We need better early warning systems to prevent a reoccurrence.
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I’m shocked that new construction in tornado prone areas does not require storm shelters similar to the seismic and hurricane building codes require. Not sure what would withstand an F5, but they are the exception
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They broadcast warnings for a few hours and were really close this time as to the tracking and the times. What hurt is that this was a nighttime one, and F4-F5 ( NWS hasn’t determined the final rating yet). And hitting the factory and the nursing home was the worst for casualties. I’ve seen two previous tornado aftermaths. Nothing close to this.
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I’m shocked that new construction in tornado prone areas does not require storm shelters similar to the seismic and hurricane building codes require. Not sure what would withstand an F5, but they are the exception
Mayfield is a historic and very old town. These buildings and most of the homes were early 1900’s-1950’s construction. It hit downtown, not in any newer subdivisions.
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I am not aware of any homes built to withstand an F5. If they are it must be an expensive upgrade. I believe in some parts of Oklahoma and maybe Kansas they are including a small room in the center of new homes that are “tornado proof”. In the case of the candle factory in Kansas they would have needed something like a bomb shelter to accommodate everyone. For shelters to work people need to be close and take every warnings very seriously.
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The candle factory was here in Mayfield, Kentucky. It went from rescue to recovery mode today :sad: New homes here are mostly getting an above-ground tornado room. It looks like a big padded safe to me. Its purpose is to protect you from flying debris, as I understand that to be a major cause of tornado deaths.
Tornado Alley has been shifting the past few years. We used to have a few warnings here April-November, and few real tornadoes. About 15 years ago it began shifting, and around 8-10 years ago, we began recording more tornadic activity than Kansas/Oklahoma. That is when they began referring to this area as the new Tornado Alley. We still haven't had a lot of damage since we are so rural. This one just happened to hit a town- a very small town, but still a place with people in close proximity and buildings that are really old.
We are planning for an underground full-concrete cellar/bunker once the new house is done.
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Horrible occurrence and thoughts and prayers to all those affected. As far as the structure, not much that can be built that is tornado proof. I have seen large trees twisted like a straw and ripped apart. The force from one of these things is un imaginable! A 6 sided concrete bunker is a good start though.
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Well said Kerry, I'm glad all on here were not affected still horrible that it happened and all lives lost.
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Satellite photos before/after Mayfield, Ky
https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2021/12/12/1063449899/tornado-damage-before-and-after-images?fbclid=IwAR1BgSZZSUkUWw7MD2XM7FpgDrvjy90QlsVdILnOnMikyirES8Tv1e4RJSo
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That's unbelievable and sad at the same time. But property can be replaced, lives cannot.