[Vobomei]

My uncle is a builder and built what he feels is as tornado proof as it can be. I'll ask him what materials he used. He lives outside Houston in Tomball.


http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/2003...rnadotough.htm

One thing it references are safe rooms. Have you seen those advertized? Can be a closet.

[ConoMadura]

Very few structures are tornado proof, given a strong enough tornado. There's a hurricane proof house in Pensacola that would likely stand up to a tornado, but it's basically a two-foot thick shell of concrete.

[QEoMi752]

couldnt all the money spent on building a tornado proof house be used to simply buy better insurance?

[eliniaguilefp7m]

insurance wont bring you back to life

[xtc2d6u8]

At 200mph wind pressure is 100 lb/ft²!

A properly shaped shell can withstand that and it doesn't need to be massive, but it will be heavier and more expensive than typical home construction.

[DoctorBretonDen]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
The geodesic structure is resistent to tornadoes. I'm seeing that in some quick searching. Makes sense. As Ron White says, "It's not that the wind is blowing, it's what the wind is blowing." A Geodesic structure with normal building materials will have the same problems as most normal structures.

[Ebjjrxrd]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Very few structures are tornado proof, given a strong enough tornado. There's a hurricane proof house in Pensacola that would likely stand up to a tornado, but it's basically a two-foot thick shell of concrete. A bit on the ugly side as well.

[TNOULbr2]

That's so you can sit in theater seats munching popcorn and watch death approach.

[Grainiary]

thats the legion of doom hq

[rasiasertew]

In recent Hurricanes we have received 18-30 inches of rain (some isolated deeper amounts.) We just got about 18 inches over the weekend without the
wind

Nobody will build their homes tornado-proof (concrete) because it's way too expensive. I dont see why, but the cost would go down as more suppliers start producing the materials or structural components. Big problem would be windows, etc... The entrance would be dug down so the doorway is below ground level on the first floor with a 2nd floor (if desired) at or just above ground level.

warning: this house will not protect you from flying cars or wood planks shot out of cannons

[nonDosearrany]

This threads needs flying cows like in "Twister"

[praboobolbode]

Originally posted by Berzerker


marketing invading iraq to make people more aware of terrorists.

[intendepods]

1. Built into a hill. The roof is, well, hill. You used to be able to see it on Google Earth but they're lost resolution of that area (rural Missouri) for some reason; now you can just see a blur. Is the house under water now? The system that dumped on us has moved on to Missouri and Illinois. I've seen houses like that, there were sheep on the roof eating the grass.

[tiereenny]

Originally posted by snoopy369

1. Built into a hill. A burrow, perhaps with a round door?

[verizon]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon


A burrow, perhaps with a round door? That's Underhill thank you very much.

[steerryGritly]

Originally posted by DanS


It's not as if we don't have these kinds of structures. In the city here, the buildings are constructed with steel-reinforced concrete. This construction method costs over twice as much as typical wood-frame housing.

Why would a normal American give up his 2,500 ft^2 nice new house for something half the size, just in order to be tornado-proof? Marketing?

[IssuessBratte]

Of course we do. Why wouldn't we? It's part of the reason why large sections of the middle class can afford big ass houses.

Lots of land. Lots of wood. Good roads. Good cars.

[jacknates]

It's easy. I've lived in both kinds of structures. Wood doesn't suffer in the comparison.

[Roxanjbra]

Wouldn't building your house underground or on top of a mountain be the best way to "tornado proof" it?