The reality is one of coincidence: most manufactured homes are located in rural and suburban locations, where meteorological conditions favor the creation of tornadoes.Ī tornado's deadly force does not selectively discriminate between the site-built and manufactured home or "mobile home" (those built prior to the HUD Code's implementation in 1976.) There is no meteorological or scientific basis to thinking that manufactured homes attract tornadoes. This requirement is part of the wind storm protection provisions of the HUD Code. For each new manufactured home sold, the manufacturer must include installation instructions to properly support and anchor the home. When properly installed and anchored, the manufactured home's wind resistance is significantly improved. Installation standards are regulated on a state-by-state basis. In both of these zones, the standard for manufactured homes is now more stringent than the current regional and national building codes for site-built homes located in these wind zones.Īn important element in the adequate wind safety of a manufactured home is the proper installation and anchoring of the home according to the manufacturer's instructions. In areas prone to hurricane-force winds (known as Wind Zones II and III, according to HUD's new Basic Wind Zone Map) the wind safety standards require that manufactured homes be resistant to winds up to 100 miles-per-hour in Wind Zone II and 110 miles-per-hour in Wind Zone III. After many months of effort by the industry to negotiate proper improvements, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued revisions to the wind safety provisions of the HUD Code, which became effective July 13, 1994. Within weeks of the storm, the manufactured housing industry endorsed appropriate improvements in the wind resistance/safety of manufactured homes. Thousands of homes, both site built and manufactured, suffered extensive damage and destruction from the force of the storm. The third strongest hurricane ever to strike the United States, Andrew was designated a Category 4. Hurricane Andrew struck the southern tip of Florida and the Gulf Coast regions of Louisiana in late August 1992 with devastating winds in excess of 150 miles-per-hour. Manufactured homes seem to attract tornadoes. Manufactured homes are particularly vulnerable to the destructive force of strong winds and tornadoes.
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