Bill Campbell

It's finally spring! Time to celebrate the return of warmer temperatures and enjoy the outdoors again. Spring also marks the beginning of severe thunderstorm and tornado season in Illinois. In this month's article, I would like to cover some myths about tornadoes, provide some information about protecting your home from wind damage, and suggest some informative additional reading.

First, the myths (according to the American Red Cross):

Myth: Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are safe from tornadoes.
Fact: No place is safe from tornadoes. In the 1980s, a tornado swept through Yellowstone National Park leaving a path of destruction down a 10,000-foot mountain.

Myth: The low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead.
Fact: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause most structural damage.

Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.
Fact: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter a structure. Leave the windows alone; instead, immediately go to a safe place.

There are some things you can do to protect your home from wind damage. Some of them can be done in existing homes without too much trouble. Examples of these include truss bracing, gable end bracing, and horizontal bracing of double-wide garage doors.

Truss braces are horizontal 2x4s nailed to the underside of your roof trusses. Try to space the braces 18 inches from the ridge and base of your trusses and nail additional braces, spaced 8-10 feet apart in the center span of the trusses. Overlap the ends of the 2x4s across two trusses to improve the strength of the roofing system.

Gable end bracing can also be performed on existing roof structures. Fasten 2x4s in an "X" pattern from the top center of the gable to the bottom center brace of the fourth or fifth truss, and from the top center of that truss to the bottom center of the gable. Be sure to nail or screw the brace at each truss brace for added strength.

High winds can cause some double-wide garage doors to bow inward and pull free from their tracks. Others wobble or collapse under high wind pressure. If this happens, the high winds are then able to enter your garage or home and blow out windows, doors, and even walls. Many tornado and wind-damaged houses show signs of garage door collapse which results in wind pressure blowing out walls or lifting portions of the home off the foundation.

To help prevent this situation, the double-wide garage doors should be strengthened with retrofit kits available where you purchase garage doors or by installing horizontal 2x4 braces. Remember that these kits and braces add weight to your garage door and may force you to install heavier lift springs. This can be a tricky and potentially dangerous task. You may want to have a garage door installer do it for you since they have the proper tools and more practice.

Additional steps can be taken to help minimize wind and tornado damage to your home. Installation of hurricane straps on rafters and sill plates to prevent lifting of roof structures and homes from foundations must be done when building a house. Certain areas of the country have requirements for installing these and other damage-prevention devices in all new home construction. You should contact your local building official, architect, engineer, or experienced contractor to find out about requirements in your area.

The American Red Cross has two good publications on this topic. One is called "Tornadoes: Nature's Most Violent Storms" (ARC 5002), and the other is "Against the Wind—Protecting Your Home from Hurricane Wind Damage" (ARC 5023). They are available from the Red Cross if you give them a call. Check your phone book under American Red Cross. There may be a charge for copies to cover production and mailing.

Another good information source is "About Severe Weather Emergencies," a Minnesota publication that I can send to you if you write or call me. It contains plans for home weather shelters you can build. As with all emergency situations, pre-planning can save your home, and possibly your life.

Bill Campbell is an Extension Educator, Farm Systems, at the Springfield Extension Center, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois. You can write to him in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3757, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: (217) 782-6515. E-Mail: campbellw@idea.ag.uiuc.edu

14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING APRIL 1997