RESOURCES FOR REPAIRING, RETROFITTING AND REBUILDING AFTER A TORNADO
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/resources-repairing-retrofitting-and-rebuilding-after-tornado]


Release Date: 
Apr 8, 2023 

Like all natural disasters, tornadoes can end up causing massive
destruction to homes, property and infrastructure. Typically,
tornadoes cause the greatest damage to structures of light
construction, including residential dwellings and particularly
manufactured homes.

Mitigation measures are available to improve personal safety and
reduce or eliminate the risk of future damages to structures and
personal property. FEMA building specialists can give you information
on how to repair, retrofit, or rebuild your home to be safer and
stronger before the next disaster.

MITIGATION TOPICS TO CONSIDER

ROOF DESIGN

Roof failures are a common cause of major damage to buildings and
their contents from high winds. There are mitigation measures that can
be taken to reduce potential roof damage.

These mitigation measures include:

 	* Designing Wind-resistant Roofs
 	* Reinforcing Gable Roof Ends
 	* Securing Sheathing Properly
 	* Installing Shingles Properly

BREACH POINTS

Exterior doors and windows are the weakest parts of a structure’s
outer shell. If they are broken or blown in, high winds can enter a
structure and create internal pressures which act on the roof and
walls, resulting in serious damage. Once the structure is breached,
wind, debris, and rain can damage the interior of the structure or
injure any person inside.

Breach point mitigation measures include:

 	* Reinforcing Garage Doors
 	* Securing Double-entry Doors
 	* Installing Impact-resistant Glass

LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIALS

Always check with local building official before beginning any repairs
or rebuilding because:

 	* Building codes, permits, inspection requirements, and zoning
ordinances may be involved.
 	* A floodplain ordinance will affect rebuilding when the structure
has sustained substantial damage and is situated in a floodplain.

Building officials will reinforce the point that only licensed
professionals are qualified to perform structural repair or structural
mitigation work.

EMAIL A SPECIALIST

If you are unable to call, email your questions, comments, or issues
to FEMA-ARMit@fema.dhs.gov to receive a written response from a
Specialist.

SPEAK TO A SPECIALIST

Call 833-FEMA-4-US or 833-336-2487 to speak to a Mitigation Specialist
about your needs, experiences, and how you can repair, retrofit, or
rebuild safer and stronger.

 	* Available Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm CDT.
 	* Not available when you call? Leave a message and a Specialist will
return your call within 24 hours.

ONLINE RESOURCES

 	* Visit https://fema.connectsolutions.com/armit/ to look through
various publications for useful information to use when making
repairs, retrofits, and rebuilding.
 	* Building Science Resources After an Extreme Wind Event
[https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_building-science-resources-assist-reconstruction-after-extreme-wind-event.pdf]
FEMA Building Science Resources to Assist with Reconstruction after an
Extreme-Wind Event.
 	* Improving Windstorm and Tornado Resilience: Recommendations for
One- and Two-Family Residential Structures
[https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_improving-windstorm-resilience-fact-sheet_022023.pdf]
A brief overview of building improvements to reduce damage to
wood-framed, one- and two-family residential structures when impacted
by tornadoes rated on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale as EF2 or less
intensity, and indirectly by tornadoes with a greater EF rating.