Quote:
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.
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Of course you are correct from a statistical standpoint...unless it happens to you. Then the odds are 100%.
Historically, homes took much more effort to build. People were willing to consider a home their biggest (often only) investment and builders considered their works as an end unto themselves. Neither of those principles hold very true anymore. People buy whatever is biggest and cheapest and builders are happy to provide the minimum product engineered to the lowest possible standards. I hope that trend has peaked. I often wonder what will become of the thousands and thousands of houses built to biggest for least principles.
I was nervous when I lived in Nebraska...less so now. If I were to go back, I'd be living in a differently engineered and constructed house...and then be killed by a tornado because it struck when I was shopping for groceries...at a Wal-Mart.
