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Planning - Making Sense Of It All

Tornado Protection: Selecting Refuge Areas in Buildings

FEMA 431

Tornado Protection book cover.Tornadoes cause heavy loss of life and property damage throughout much of the United States. Most schools and other public buildings include areas that offer some protection from this danger, and building administrators should know the locations of these areas.

This booklet presents case studies of three schools that were struck by tornadoes: Xenia Senior High School in Xenia, Ohio; St. Augustine Elementary School in Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Kelly Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, which were struck on April 3, 1974; May 13, 1980; and May 3, 1999, respectively. The resulting damage to these schools was examined by teams of structural engineers, building scientists, engineering and architectural faculties, building administrators, and representatives of the architectural firms that designed the buildings.

From these and other examinations, guidance has been developed for selecting the safest areas in existing buildings - areas that may offer protection if a tornado strikes - referred to in this booklet as the best available refuge areas. The guidance presented in this booklet is intended primarily to help building administrators, architects, and engineers select the best available refuge areas in existing schools. Building administrators, architects, and engineers are encouraged to apply this guidance so that the number of injuries and deaths will be minimized if a tornado strikes an occupied school. For the design of shelters in schools yet to be constructed, refer to FEMA publication 361, Design and Construction of Community Shelters.

PDF FileFEMA 431- Tornado Protection: Selecting Refuge Areas in Buildings -- 11.8 MB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 68 KB

Individual Chapters

PDF FileFEMA 431- Cover – Introduction -- 936 KB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 8 KB

PDF FileFEMA 431- Chapter 1: Tornado Profile -- 3.0 MB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 68 KB

PDF FileFEMA 431- Chapter 2: Efects of High Winds -- 300 KB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 8 KB

PDF FileFEMA 431- Chapter 3: Case Studies -- 1.7 MB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 24 KB

PDF FileFEMA 431- Chapter 4: Selection Procedures -- 4.8 MB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 28 KB

PDF FileFEMA 431- Chapter 5: Conclusions -- 412 KB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 4 KB

PDF FileFEMA 431- Information Sources -- 1.0 MB
TXT FileText Version for Screen Readers -- 4 KB

 

 Last Updated: Monday, 25-Oct-2004 08:42:35 EDT
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