[Skywarn] Fwd: NIST Joplin Tornado Report released

[Lloyd Colston]

News you can use as you mitigate Tornado effects in your community.

Lloyd


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Smith - NOAA Federal <richard.smith at noaa.gov>
Date: Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Subject: NIST Joplin Tornado Report released
To:


The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released
their 492 page report on the Joplin tornado. I've included their summary of
the report below. Lots of information here on everything from building
performance to human factors in warning response.

Here's the link (big file, will take time to download)

http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=914787

*This is the final report of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) investigation of the May 22, 2011, tornado in Joplin,
Missouri, conducted under the National Construction Safety Team Act. This
report describes the wind field of the tornado and how the wind pressures
and windborne debris damaged and destroyed thousands of buildings; the
emergency communications before and during the tornado and how the public
responded; the influence of tornado hazards and public response and
building and designated shelter area performance on survival and injury;
and areas of current building and emergency communications codes, standards
and practices that warrant revision. Also described in this report is the
means by which NIST reached its conclusions. NIST collected large numbers
of documents, photographs, videos, and building plans; developed a computer
model of the wind field of the tornado as it crossed the City of Joplin;
analyzed the performance of a range of building types for life safety and
functionality; interviewed many survivors of the tornado, developed an
evidence-based explanation for decisions made and actions taken by the
public in response to the tornado; and analyzed the factors affecting life
safety outcomes. The report outlines 47 findings related to the May 22,
2011, Joplin tornado and concludes with a list of 16 recommendations for
action in areas of improved measurement and characterization of tornado
hazards, new methods for tornado resistant design of buildings, enhanced
guidance for community tornado sheltering, and improved and standardized
emergency communications.*


Rick Smith - Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service - Norman Forecast Office
120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2400
Norman, OK 73072
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