These steps include ensuring that the community meets both the state and federal guidelines for emergency response. These are just a few of the questions Kovel helps communities answer. By and large, Kovel said, emergency planners throughout the state are well prepared for such disasters. Still, he said, he would like to see more state and federal funds available to communities so they can take additional preventative measures, including disaster drills to test communities for their ability to respond efficiently. Until more funds are made available, Kovel said that the best thing communities can do is make sure their lines of communication can withstand a disaster.
Tornadoes are very unpredictable.
While Kovel offers advice to help prepare communities for disasters, Steve McCabe, professor and chair of civil and environmental engineering at KU, said there are a few measures homeowners can take to fortify their homes against tornadoes. Although McCabe said he has not done much work on issues related to tornadoes, he has done extensive research on structural damage caused by earthquakes. In November 1999, McCabe and JoAnn Browning, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, toured earthquake sites in Turkey to determine why some buildings managed to survive when others didn't. There are connection plates a builder can use that are better than just driving nails to make the connection. These are steps a homeowner can take to feel safer, McCabe said, but the top priority should be to make sure you have a secure area to take shelter.