Q: What do a divorce in Alabama, a tornado in Kansas, and a hurricane in Florida have in common?
A: Somebody's fixin' to lose them a trailer.
Okay, so we've all heard the jokes. But it's really no laughing matter.
When a tornado hits, it's not uncommon to see images of devastating damage in mobile home communities while surrounding site-built homes appear relatively unscathed.
Why is this?
Is it really possible that tornadoes are more attracted to mobile homes?
The answer is...not at all.
First, if a mobile home isn't tied down, there is going to be more damage. If a mobile home is not tied down, it can tip with winds as low as 55mph.
Mobile homes are less stable structurally and are more likely to be destroyed when hit. Because the structures are built at a factory and transported to their locations, they are often lighter in weight than site-built homes, and, therefore, less secure.
Next, you need to consider where most mobile homes are located...geographically and how susceptible the landscape is to severe weather.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, there's a high percentage of mobile homes in the area known as "Tornado Alley." This is an area in the central and southwest United States.
And here is a scary fact. Almost half of all tornado fatalities in the U.S. occur in mobile homes.
So if you are in a mobile home when a Tornado Warning is issued, you need to evacuate the mobile home and find shelter immediately. Have a plan. Have somewhere safe to go.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement