Pre-Fab homes and tornados?
Modular Home Questions August 28th, 2011I own about 5 acres of land in iowa, im looking to buy a modular/pre-fab home, but i live in iowa so im technically in tornado alley… where am i supposed to go if there is a tornado? im looking into a small log cabin style pre-fab so they dont build them with basements would it be smart to go in the wooded area near me?
August 28th, 2011 at 5:48 am
If the weather should get severe enough that you need to take shelter, remain calm. If possible get to the lowest level of the building/house and/or an interior room or area. This would be an area with no windows nor walls that share with the outside. If you can not get to a sturdier shelter, then find a low ditch or culvert and lay flat as can be face down. Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Some tornadoes have been known to travel up to 70MPH. Remember, REMAIN CALM!
Also, you may look into getting a safe room or even a in-ground shelter built. A safe room is a well constructed room that is built within a house or building.
August 28th, 2011 at 5:48 am
Several of the modular/prefab homes are very wind resistant. Some even stand up to hurricane force winds well. But, the majority are more in the class of a mobile/manufactured home which do not preform well in high winds or tornadoes. If it is one of those, you are wise to consider a shelter
I would recommend an in-ground prefab shelter near the home. As long as the shelter is not in a flood zone, these types of prefab storm shelters are a less expensive and preform well in even the worst storms. If money is not a consideration. A larger model that doubles as a play house or "root cellar" could be considered.
August 28th, 2011 at 5:48 am
I went through the may 24th piedmont tornado in oklahoma and i can say that a pre-fab home definatly would not have stood through that. I HIGHLY recommend an inground shelter.
August 28th, 2011 at 5:48 am
You can dig a basement for a pre-fab home. Several people in my family have them and have basements. You must be looking at pretty SMALL in size however, where it would not make sense to dig one. If you are the NE part of the state building in the hills and wooded areas, would provide a lot of protection.
All American Homes in dyersville has pre-fab log homes. The one I toured was nice!!