Can tornadoes break brick houses? Many homeowners assume that because bricks are strong and durable, they can withstand anything. However, this is not necessarily true when it comes to tornadoes. While brick can be stronger than other materials such as wood or vinyl in some cases, it may not be enough to protect you from the devastating effects of a tornado. In this blog post, we will discuss whether a tornado can break through brick houses and what measures can be taken to make sure your home is protected against these destructive storms. Read on to learn more!
Tornado Strength and Rating
Tornadoes can be incredibly destructive, with winds reaching up to 300 mph in the most intense storms. The strength of a tornado can be measured by its rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale). This scale ranges from EF-0, which is considered a light tornado and has wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph, all the way up to EF-5, which is considered an extreme tornado and can have wind speeds over 200 mph. Even tornadoes at the lower end of this scale can cause significant damage to homes and property, while those at the higher end can devastate an entire town. It’s important to understand these ratings so that you can prepare for any potential storm threats in your area.
How Strong Is a Brick House
Brick houses can be incredibly strong and durable, but can they withstand the high winds of a tornado? It’s important to understand that even brick homes can succumb to the destructive power of a tornado. Tornadoes can have wind speeds reaching up to 300 mph in extreme cases, which is far beyond what any house can take. Even those at the lower end of this scale can cause significant damage as well. While bricks are generally stronger than other materials such as wood or vinyl, they may not be enough to protect you from a tornado’s devastating effects.
Once the roof of a house has been ripped off by a tornado, the immense forces can get inside and tear it apart. This can happen even with lower intensity tornadoes (EF-3 or lower) as they can break through doors and windows, allowing the wind to enter and cause further destruction. The walls can be pulled away from each other, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake. Roofs can also be lifted off entirely, taking the rest of the structure along with it. In severe cases, entire neighborhoods can be destroyed in just minutes due to these powerful winds. In short, tornadoes above a EF-3 rating can break brick houses.
What Can Be Done to Tornado-Proof Your Home
It can be hard to think about preparing your home for a tornado when you live in an area that isn’t particularly prone to such storms. But even if you don’t experience tornadoes very often, it’s still important to know how to protect yourself and your family in the event of one. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to tornado-proof your home. These precautions can help protect you from tornadoes that will break brick houses.
Have A Tornado Shelter
One of the most important ways to protect your home is by having a designated safe room. A good safe room should be located on the lowest level of your home and away from any windows. Interior rooms like bathrooms or closets can work well as safe rooms since they can provide structural support and protection from flying debris. It’s also a good idea to keep an emergency kit in this room with items such as water, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food. This can help sustain you and your family during a storm until help arrives.
Secure Windows and Doors
Another way to tornado proof your home is by making sure all entrances are well-protected against wind pressure. Installing impact-resistant windows can go a long way towards protecting your home from strong winds entering through windows or doors. Storm shutters can also be installed over the exterior of windows or doors for extra security. Additionally, reinforcing exterior walls with steel framing can help add additional strength and stability to the structure of your home, helping it withstand strong winds better than a regular wall would be able to do on its own.
Have The Right Insurance
Finally, it’s important to make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage for potential damage caused by tornadoes or other extreme weather conditions. Talk with an insurance agent to get all the necessary details about what kind of damage is covered. Also ask about deductibles or exclusions that may apply in case something happens due to severe weather conditions.
What To Do In The Event of a Tornado
It’s extremely important to know what steps you should take if a tornado is headed your way. Tornadoes can cause devastating damage and often arrive with little warning. That’s why it’s important to know what to do if one shows up.
If you can get to your safe room or an interior room without windows, do so immediately. Staying away from the outside walls and windows can provide additional protection from debris. If you can’t get to a safe area, crouch down close to the floor in a hallway or bathroom. Covering yourself with blankets can also help protect you against flying objects.
Once you’ve reached safety, stay tuned into local news outlets for updates on the storm’s location and severity. This will help you know when it’s safe to come out again.
How Have You Tornado Proofed Your Home?
As tornado season approaches, it can be helpful to make sure your home is as prepared as possible. We’d like to hear from our readers about the steps they’ve taken to tornado proof their homes! Let us know how you’re preparing for severe weather conditions in the comments below.