How twister-ready is downtown OKC?

[urbanity]

How twister-ready is downtown OKC? | OKG Scene.com

[Kerry]

They are as ready as Ft Worth, Nashville, and Atlanta. All three cities have taken direct hits by tornadoes in the last few years.

Atlanta tornado March 14, 2008

[Spartan]

So many pressing issues facing downtown right now. Transit, MAPS oversight, construction nightmares, SandRidge demolitions, Bricktown retail, and I could go on and on for paragraphs. The Gazette comes out with this? Who gives a hell?? Seriously. "How twister-ready is downtown OKC?" Come on..how about a topic that actually is pressing..

It's mid June in Oklahoma, there aint gonna be a tornado that hits downtown until at least next year.

[Urban Pioneer]

To be honest, post Murrah Bombing I have always been surprised that Oklahoma City Emergency management treats downtown the same as any suburban area in terms of protocol.

You would think that there would be some automatic procedures in place to usher people down to the concourse from streets and plaza's. That's where I'm headed if anything over an F-2 is coming.

[Midtowner]

How twister ready is anyplace?

[metro]

So many pressing issues facing downtown right now. Transit, MAPS oversight, construction nightmares, SandRidge demolitions, Bricktown retail, and I could go on and on for paragraphs. The Gazette comes out with this? Who gives a hell?? Seriously. "How twister-ready is downtown OKC?" Come on..how about a topic that actually is pressing..

It's mid June in Oklahoma, there aint gonna be a tornado that hits downtown until at least next year.

I can agree with you on this one. This article was a waste of space for the Gazette. #fail

[ljbab728]

How twister ready is anyplace?

Basically all you can do is have a warning system, shelters, public education, and emergency planning in effect.

[Thunder]

Why is it that a tornado can flatten a very large building, maybe up to 3 floors, but never have the strength to take down an entire skyscraper?

[Dustin]

Why is it that a tornado can flatten a very large building, maybe up to 3 floors, but never have the strength to take down an entire skyscraper?

I always thought that since the funnels are so close to the ground most of the time, the tornado would just break up because it wouldn't be able to pass over a skyscraper.

[Kerry]

Why is it that a tornado can flatten a very large building, maybe up to 3 floors, but never have the strength to take down an entire skyscraper?

Why can I push a car, but I can't push a school bus?

[bombermwc]

It's a simple matter of materials of construction. A home isn't really that structurally strong. Wood just isn't really that strong of a material...and even if you have brick, that's just for looks, it doesn't support any structure.

Now look at a highrise. It's got a concrete or steel framework. Not the same thing at all.

While a direct hit may not topple a highrise (depending on how big it is), the real concern is the debris. That tornado could suck everything out of the building and leave it empty of all articles belonging to it's tenants, but leave the structure intact. You get that much junk flying around, you might just get something slamming into the structural elements of the building as well. You get enough damange, the structure is compromised, and kablewey.

It's really a practice of probability though. Cost v. Benefit while considering risk.

What is the liklihood of a tornado directly hitting a tower downtown? And the liklihood of that tornado being of sufficient strength to really cause that heavy of damage. In other words, how likely do you think it is an F4 or F5 is going to plow right into the Oklahoma Tower? It's about diddily.

[bluedogok]

bomber is right, it is because most homes are typically the most poorly built structures in terms of survivability, right behind mobile homes and metal buildings (the commercial version of the mobile home). When the one hit Downtown Fort Worth it pretty much blew out all the curtainwall glazing on the towers, mostly from debris but the rest of the towers were structurally sound.

I still don't understand why people (when buying new homes) are more concerned about "upgrades" like granite countertops rather than something safer. The technology exists out there to make a much safer home and one that looks mostly like a traditional home (for those who like that), sure it costs a little more now but if people actually started building homes like they should instead of building with Tinkertoy framing the cost would get to the same price point. Items like ICF (insulated Concrete Forms), AAC (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), CMU block (split face for looks) or even using steel framing instead of wood could get homes to a much safer level than you can acheive with wood and for the most part those other materials also can make a much more energy efficient home. When we build our new home it will more than likely be ICF.

[mugofbeer]

Why is it that a tornado can flatten a very large building, maybe up to 3 floors, but never have the strength to take down an entire skyscraper?

When a tornado hit downtown Ft. Worth 10 years ago The Bank One Building of 35 floors took a direct hit. Damage was severe enough to the building that it had to be demolished. It didn't collapse, however.

[bluedogok]

When a tornado hit downtown Ft. Worth 10 years ago The Bank One Building of 35 floors took a direct hit. Damage was severe enough to the building that it had to be demolished. It didn't collapse, however.

It wasn't imploded, although it was planned at one time it was rebuilt into condos by another developer. The planned implosion was by the owner who thought it too expensive to renovate, not because of structural damage.

Here are some pictures of the damaged tower: Dallas Skyscrapers - Fort Worth Tornado



Here are some of the "after" pictures: The Tower - Architecture in Fort Worth

[Matt]

Our downtown is currently 28 times more tornado-ready than it is Godzilla-ready. That's the real story here, and the Gazette's completely ignoring it!

[kevinpate]

The renovation of the FW structure is downright pretty to look at.

[mugofbeer]

It wasn't imploded, although it was planned at one time it was rebuilt into condos by another developer. The planned implosion was by the owner who thought it too expensive to renovate, not because of structural damage.

Yeah, I remember now. Thanks for correcting me.

[possumfritter]

Shoot, who cares about tornadoes hitting downtown, at least you have plenty of warning...

Guatemala Sinkhole Is MASSIVE, Swallows Building (PICTURE)

[mburlison]

How Apocalypse ready are we?