[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Unfortunately construction methods are driven by price point.

Originally Posted by Gogar

What percentage of the 120 million plus homes in the USA has been struck by a tornado this year?

One hundredth of a percent? One thousandth of a percent?
Shall we build every home in the USA out of concrete to ensure that the few hundred homes leveled by a tornado each year "might" survive?

No, we shant.

If I want to, I will. If you want to, do it. Legislate or mandate it? no.

Yes, it's a tragedy.

Yes and yes. In addition, fatalities during tornados are pretty rare and are most often someone caught out in the storm. I can't personally recall hearing of someone that died while sheltered in their basement. So your percentage declines further.

Stick building is popular because it is cheap. You can easily add a concrete safe room in the basement, but it costs money. My in-laws built their home out of 12" thick foam block that goes together like Legos and is then filled with concrete and rebar. Hyper efficient and tested to survive an EF4 tornado, but EXPENSIVE. You get what you pay for, and in our Walmart society people buy based on low price.