Western U research aims for tornado-resistant communities

Officials in Moore, Okla. introduced tighter building standards to withstand tornadoes after two of the wind events caused 27 deaths and resulted in some $3 billion in damage. Western University professor Greg Kopp was part of a study that showed if the mitigations were taken in home building across Oklahoma, the benefit-cost ratio would be 3:1.

Improved engineering and better roofing supplies could help ensure that up to 95 per cent of Canadian homes can withstand category EF-2 tornadoes, says Western University civil engineering professor Greg Kopp. Kopp, a Winnipeg native who has been at Western since 1997 studying the effects of high winds on buildings through such programs as the … Continue reading Western U research aims for tornado-resistant communities