Can buildings be made strong enough to withstand a tornados strong winds?
Following the May 3, 1999 outbreak, FEMA sent a team including forensic engineers to study the damage homes and businesses sustained from violent tornadoes. The Building Performance Assessment Team (BPAT) published their final report, “Midwest Tornadoes of May 3, 1999.” The report is available from FEMA by calling 1-888-565-3896 to request Publication 342, or you can download the full report [PDF 6.7 MB] electronically The BPAT report includes recommendations which can be made to both existing and new structures to increase their resistance to strong winds.
