Architect Butch Grimes — who examined the wreckage after a half-mile tornado struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., — believes damage on the edge of even the strongest tornadoes can be reduced by adhering to hurricane resiliency standards. “The damage we had on the edges [of the tornado] could have been avoided with simple construction techniques,” Grimes told Scientific American. Hurricane clips are one potential quick fix. In Alabama, the clips are required for buildings built within 5 miles of the Gulf of Mexico but remain optional farther inland. Reinforced windows could be another effective measure.
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