Tornadoes strike with incredible velocity. Wind speeds from tornadoes can approach 300 miles per hour. And as the wind picks up, any loose items in the yard take flight. Screened enclosures usually fail early on. As the wind intensifies, shingles begin to lift ands trees are uprooted.
Unprotected doors give way and the wind is inside the house, pushing the structure from within.
Poorly attached window coverings give way and, as pressure builds, the garage door fails, allowing the full force of the wind inside. And all this happens in a matter of seconds. Once a tornado strikes, there is little to do to prevent damage, but there are steps one can take ahead of time to protect lives and property. FEMA believes it is important that communities, businesses and individuals take the necessary steps to prevent or limit damage to life and property and to prepare to the extent possible before natural disasters strike. At the heart of Project Impact is the formation of active partnerships among businesses, civic leaders and individual citizens.