Scientists Intersted in "Tornado Proof" (Structure

[Adam B]

Hello Everyone,

I don't watch much of what comes over the TV airwaves, although I found a pontential oportunity for the Skip style home. The TV special was National Geographic back on May 27, 2007. Sorry, I just now had the opportunity to research a few things for everyone. There were scientists interested in creating "inexpensive", "tornado proof" houses.

Here is the link to the show:

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/popup/200705272100.html

Here is the link to the Scientists:

http://www.iastate.edu/Inside/04/0430/tornado.shtml

If you ever get to see the show, you will be awwed by how the tornados shred and/or just pick up the whole house, turn it upside down and plant it on it's roof. Thus a pile of splinters.

Ellsworth, Steve and Rock, here is a great opportunity! Maybe the design could save some lives!

Here to help when I can,

Adam B

[Ellsworth]

I have a dream of shooting a 2x4 at a log wall, in a manner that meets specs for tornado / hurricane ASTM (mainly those are about length and speed iirc).

Someone should beat me to it, that way it gets done :)

My full vision was this:
1) Buy an IBC tote and cut the top off.

2) Dig a 4' deep hole in the ground that yields space for either an 8" or 10" stemwall around the IBC tote.

3) Pour a floor. Drop in the IBC tote and bolt it to the floor.

4) Pour a stemwall and build a very small B&P structure out of whatever the heck wood you can find.
Logs, timbers, cants, beams, 2x10s, et cetera.

4) Solid flat wood ceiling.
Somehow make that solid wood ceiling your access door.
Make it extremely strong: hinge points and latch side.

5) Add a removable shed roof.

4' buried, 3' above grade, it should be a solid storm shelter.

It's an idea. Good? Bad? Better than alternatives? Comparatively cheap? Effective?
I do not know.