To reduce the threat of death, injury, and property damage, the American Meteorological Society urges that Also, efforts at the local level to develop regulations governing mobile home anchors have proven effective as a property-protection measure in wind-prone areas. Such activity is considered essential for individual safety. Furthermore, as shown in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew (1992), even the most rigorous building codes often are not well enforced.ĭeath, injury, and property damage in the wake of severe windstorms have prompted efforts to encourage owners of large mobile home communities to construct storm shelters. Yet, there are still a large number of homes built before the early 1990s and outside these locales that need not meet this new standard and therefore are more vulnerable. Stronger building codes are now in place in many states along the East and Gulf coasts and in Alaska, requiring new manufactured homes to withstand either 55 meters per second (120 mph, 3-second gust) or 58 meters per second (130 mph, 3-second gust) winds. All of these can produce gusts in excess of 50 mph (measured over 3 seconds), which is approximately near the lower limit of wind speeds known to be capable of damaging mobile homes. This includes thunderstorm outflows, cold fronts, midlatitude cyclones, and downslope winds off mountains. These homes can be demolished by many kinds of severe winds. The public perception that only tornadoes and hurricanes destroy mobile homes is wrong. Part of the problem associated with tornadoes and other severe windstorms is the flying debris resulting from damaged mobile homes, which may impact surrounding property. For example, statistics kept by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center for the 18-year period from 1985 to 2002 show that 49% of the tornado fatalities in the United States are now suffered by those who remain within or attempt to flee mobile homes. Of concern to the American Meteorological Society is that mobile home residents are injured or killed in disproportionate numbers from high wind events. Census Bureau, approximately 20 million people permanently reside in an estimated 8 million mobile homes (now formally known as manufactured homes) throughout the country, representing about 8% of all homes in the United States. (Adopted by AMS Council on 8 October 2004)Īccording to the American Housing Survey of the U.S.
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