How we can make mobile homes safer during tornadoes

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Mobile home communities often see some of the worst damage from tornadoes, but researchers at Western Michigan University say a few construction techniques can significantly increase the strength of the buildings.

On Tuesday, an EF2 tornado flipped over and destroyed many homes at Pavilion Estates east of Portage. The twister left behind injuries in the Portage area, but no deaths.

‘Thought we were gonna die’: Tornado destroys homes, businesses in Portage area

Just a few miles away from Pavilion Estates at WMU’s Bronco Construction Research Center in Kalamazoo, engineers are looking at ways to strengthen mobile homes against severe weather events like tornadoes. The reason mobile homes are so easily destroyed is because of how they’re built and often installed.

“We can adapt with this so at least we can somehow save the structural elements — talking about the roof, the walls, the foundation,” senior research associate Bilal Alhawamdeh said.

Alhawamdeh said requiring stronger attachments to hold together the framing of mobile homes and better securing the structures to the ground would make a big difference. One method would be to add adhesive to where the roof rests on the walls or to use additional metal straps or brackets often called hurricane straps.

“I found out using the metal straps, which is the conventional one which you can find in any store, they can at least double the strength of the connections,” he said. “…If that wind is 70 mph, hits the building, and if you have a metal strap, that means your building can sustain 120 up to 140 mph.”

The added measures help transfer the load from the roof down the side of the wall and into the ground, reducing damage.

‘Can’t believe I made it’: Sherwood area hit by likely tornado

The researchers say many mobile homes in northern states like Michigan do not use the reinforcement features. They are looking at ways to retrofit existing mobile homes.

“I think the next season, we might have the same number of tornadoes and maybe more, or more severe, so we need to think how we can bring those techniques and try to adapt them in our construction codes,” Alhawamdeh said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.