Auditorium is safe alternative

[Joey Ketcham]

This was in the Letter to the Editor in my local paper yesterday:


Dear Editor:

Several months ago our mayor, a former police officer (which position may or may not qualify him as a structural engineer) "pooh poohed" the idea of using Municipal Auditorium as a tornado shelter since "it could cave in under a strong tornado." I, of course, make no claim as having a degree in construction but I did acquire a smidgen of such knowledge in 19 years in a railroad engineering office.

The K.C. Star, 2-26-08, in an article about the devastating Greensburg tornado last May, included a picture of the Kiowa County courthouse (which somewhat resembles our auditorium) stating "it was one of the few buildings not wrecked by the tornado."

Is it faintly possible we should get another judgment from a qualified engineer? Nah! The mayor surely did that before he vetoed the idea.
Then, too, the Greensburg storm might not have been a "strong tornado." It was merely an F-5 which literally wiped out the town. After a former commissioner, with a long term of office, admitted he had never heard the words "emergency preparedness" in a commission meeting, we have made some progress in installing a generator switch in the auditorium, which with other planned improvements will make it a viable shelter in event of a city-wide power outage or other disaster.

Maybe some day we will get to see the city manager's manual on an emergency management program. Other cities have adopted such programs. Personally, I think the auditorium is a safer haven in a tornado than in a clothes closet in a frame hjouse. But, like many others, I'm not an expert on tornados.

I lack knowledge in structural engineering, but the lack of support in an open span room would be dangerous hence why we recommend not taking shelter in places like an auditorium.

I thought I would post this and get some thought on it, I feel like writing a reply to this.

 

[Jason Foster]

A designer's opinion

As an architect I would agree that the large open areas are not the best choice.

However, the larger structural trusses and beams that hold up these structures are typically over engineered for the load. The truss have to be able to maintain a load of snow and high winds as a standard. Engineers tend to get nervous about designing large structures and areas were thousands of people occupy the space. This could be that it is a relatively safe place if a better option isn't available. I would much prefer someone heading to that space than a trailer home, older stick built (wood frame) home, or even some long span (with open web steel trusses) commercial buildings.

If considering a proper shelter for tornadoes and hurricanes, a small space with reinforced walls are best. Instead of heading for the large open space of an auditorium, head for the bathrooms within the same complex.

Tim Marshall, structural engineer and surveyor of many aftermaths of severe weather is likely the foremost expert on this topic.

 

[Paul Austin]

Okay, so even if an auditorium is a more structurally sound place to take cover, there is still a serious flaw in any plans to use such a structure for shelter in the event of a tornado. How long would you suppose it would take to notify the appropriate authorities, get the facility opened, get the word out to the public, and populate the building with said residents?

In the case of the Greensburg storm, there was extraordinary lead time relative to the typical tornado situation. If memory serves me correctly, that lead time was about 45 minutes, maybe 50. Even if we assume (bad idea) to have this much time in every case, is it remotely possible to accomplish all that would be required to use such a facility. I think it would be much safer for residents to take shelter in their own interior closets, or in the case of mobile homes, seek out shelter in a stronger nearby structure, perhaps the restroom of a convenience store/gas station or some other public facility.

The wide open structural integrity question is a concern, but not as great a concern as time, IMO. Of course I'm only talking about a tornado emergency here. A hurricane or similar emergency, with adequate lead time would be a different situation.