Why do people in tornado prone areas live in cheaply built houses?

Question

If millions of houses in California can withstand a 7.5 earthquake why can't a house in Kansas withstand wind??

Answer 1

Im a Canadian, so my understanding may be incorrect but...

According to the best of my knowledge, California is generally a wealthier area than Kansas, and so people are going to build(and buy) whatever they can afford. Therefore, in California, they can build earthquake proof homes, while in Kansas they dont build as strong of homes. Its a sad thing...

Answer 2

First of all, the odds of a house, even in a tornado prone area, of actually being destroyed by a tornado are very, very slim. It really takes pretty much of a direct hit to destroy a house. And building a house that can withstand a direct hit from a storm with 300 mph winds, when there is such a minute chance of getting hit, just isn't cost effective.

I've lived in central Illinois my entire life (42 years) and I've gone through hundreds of tornado warnings, but I've never seen a tornado. The closest a tornado has ever come to my house is about 2 miles. Why spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make a house "tornado-proof" when, in 42 years a tornado has never come near my house? It is much more cost effective to simply insure the house and replace it in the unlikely event of a direct hit. Remember, property in the Midwest is much cheaper than in California. I have a $90,000 house that sits on a nice sized lot. I've compared it to similar houses in the San Francisco area and it would cost nearly half a million there. So, why spend $300,000 to tornado-proof a home when it can be replaced for a fraction of that?

Answer 3

You're kidding, right? Even a very strong earthquake cannot match a tornado for the sheer amount of force that gets concentrated in a very small area. Short of a reinforced concrete bunker, nothing can survive the 200+ mph winds of an F4 or F5, along with the flying debris. For example, a 2x4 flying at 150 mph will punch through a reinforced brick wall as if it weren't there.

I realize that California rarely gets tornadoes, let alone the powerful ones that struck yesterday. But if an F3, F4, or F5 came smashing through your neighborhood, the results would be identical.

Answer 4

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

According to recent studies made by World Bank, the coming crisis will be far worse than initially predicted. So if you're already preparing for the crisis (or haven't started yet) make sure you watch this video at http://www.familysurvival.tv and discover the 4 BIG issues you'll have to deal with when the crisis hits, and how to solve them fast (before the disaster strikes your town!) without spending $1,000s on overrated items and useless survival books.

Answer 5

Capitolism my son, the cheaper you build them, they more $$$ the builders make. If they wanted too they could build castles out of stone, but it would cost more than it would be worth.

Answer 6

For the same reason that anyone anywhere would live in a cheaply constructed home.

Answer 7

So that when any cyclone comes and their houses are destroyed there is no economic losses on large scale.

Answer 8

the same issue like in japan where they have cheap houses because earthquakes destroy them

Answer 9

I wonder why California dosent crack off the US and fall into the ocean?

Answer 10

It's cheaper to rebuild.