NWS: Anchor Bolts Not Detected in Most Homes Lost in Arkansas Tornado (The Free Market Effect) [View all]
VILONIA -- The National Weather Service (NWS) reports there has been speculation about why the Arkansas tornado received a EF-4 rating despite the fact that numerous homes were removed from their foundations with only slabs remaining.
"Years ago, that might be justification for an F5 rating on the original Fujita scale," a writer on the NWS website explains. "These days, the quality of the construction is examined before a rating is assigned. One of the factors determining the rating is the use of anchor bolts."
As shown in the picture, the home to left in the Vilonia (Faulkner County) area had cut nails instead of anchor bolts to fasten the structure to the foundation.
In fact, according to the article, in Vilonia (Faulkner County), there was little indication of anchor bolts where homes once stood.
More at http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/d/story/nws-anchor-bolts-not-detected-in-most-homes-lost-i/38060/Vy08-eePiEuxgpQRiTE8PQ .
Comment by Jamie at IntoxiNation: "...So why builders, building houses in tornado alley use the bare minimum to keep the house on the ground? Simple, it costs less. And why would a state in tornado alley not have more strict building requirements? Simple, it's red state America and they believe the free market will make the better call. For Republicans, this means they can only blame the homeowners, who should have known better. I mean, isn't every homebuyer a structural engineer?"
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