The American Meteorological Society recently adopted a policy on mobile homes and severe windstorms. The policy recognizes that nearly 20 million Americans now reside in 8 million mobile homes. That is about 8 percent of all the residences in the U.S. But 49% of the tornado fatalities recorded between 1985 and 2002 occurred in manufactured housing.
One part of the problem is that the public perceives the threat to manufactured housing only comes from hurricanes and tornadoes. In fact, thunderstorm downbursts and high downslope mountain winds as well as some generic winds also pose a major threat. Any wind of 50 mph or higher can damage a mobile home. New building codes are helping, but older homes are not covered and the codes are often not well enforced in some jurisdictions. Some important considerations:
1. Owners of large mobile home communities should construct shelters and signs directing residents to the safe haven.
2. Local authorities should develop regulations that require proper mobile home anchors.
In addition, mobile home owners and residents have the following responsibilities:
1. To use instructions provided by their mobile home manufacturer to properly anchor their homes. If that is unavailable, check the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.
2. Residents in manufactured housing must be familiar with severe weather procedures that will enhance their safety in an anchored mobile home
3. Residents in manufactured housing must have a reliable way of receiving tornado, severe thunderstorm and high wind warnings immediately at any hour. A NOAA Weather Radiois the best way.
4. Residents should immediately evacuate mobile homes and seek safe shelter when a tornado, severe thunderstorm or other high wind event threatens.
Now is the time to consider these recommendations if you live in manufactured housing. Be ready, not lucky.
