Mobile/Manufactured Homes & Severe Weather

What are the implications?

Linda GilbertMeteorologist, NWS Louisville

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings 60+ MPH: “Expect wind damage to roofs, siding &

trees.” 70+ MPH: “Wind damage is also likely to mobile

homes, roofs, & outbuildings.”

Tornado Warnings “Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.” “If in a mobile home…move to the closest

substantial shelter….”

National Weather Service Warnings

Numerous studies show how dangerous it is to be in a mobile or manufactured home during severe weather, particularly tornadoes.

“Mobile homes have been widely recognized as a contributing factor in U.S. tornado fatalities. Brooks and Doswell (2002) found that the average annual death rate in mobile homes was approximately 20 times higher than in permanent homes. Ashley (2007) discovered that mobile homes (44%) were the most common location for tornado fatalities from 1985 to 2005, followed by permanent homes (25.3%) and vehicles (9.9%). This disparity is more striking when considering that mobile homes accounted for a mere 5%–8% of U.S. housing units….”

Why the mention in warnings?

Tornado fatalities in mobile/manufactured homes in 2012:

Kentucky - 82% (18 out of 22)

Nationwide - nearly 71%

Let’s Talk Statistics

EF Number3 Second Gust

(mph)0 (weak) 65-85

1 (weak) 86-110

2 (strong) 111-135

3 (strong) 136-165

4 (violent) 166-200

5 (violent) Over 200

Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale

Marion CountyEF-0, 30 January 2013

Madison & Garrard CountiesEF-3, 8 May 2009

Madison & Garrard CountiesEF-3, 8 May 2009

Mobile Home Damage Single Family Home Damage

Eastbrook Mobile Home Park suffered extreme damage

Tornado occurred around 2am

C.J.’s Law: Named for two-year-old C.J. Martin, one of the fatalities, &

spearheaded by his mother, Kathryn Signed into Indiana law by IN Governor Mitchell Daniels in

2007 Mandates NOAA Weather Radios in all new & relocated

manufactured housing within manufactured communities

Evansville, INF-3, 6 November 2005

Close call as an EF-1 tornado (~90 mph) touched down in nearby Newburgh, IN

Many Eastbrook residents fled People didn’t want to take chances this time “Geri Doughty, 46, said her home felt like a basketball being

dribbled low and fast in 2005.”

As of early 2012, the mobile home park still lacks a tornado shelter Sought shelter in nearby hospital, under an overpass (very

dangerous!), & wherever the closest shelter was that they could find

Evansville, IN29 February 2012

Tornado Safety

Put as many walls & floors between you & the tornado as possible.

If you have a basement, use it!

Clear out interior closets so that they may be used as shelter.

Evacuate any mobile homes & seek sturdy shelter!

It is important for residents of mobile/manufactured homes:

to have a severe weather plan in place to have easy access to safe shelter during severe

weather, particularly tornadoes to be aware of impending hazardous weather to have a NOAA Weather Radio, especially when

severe weather is expected to occur overnight

Bottom Line

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