Moore Debris Wall

[James Gustina]

I grew concerned that it was another "stop the tornado from hitting here" deal but its something that's a little bit less ridiculous. Seems the city of Moore is proposing this to prevent debris from piling up or something of that nature. I'm not sure what the actual benefits this will really even have, because I can't come up with any.

Source: http://m.koco.com/news/moore-planning-protective-wall-to-shield-residents/30869508

 

[Marcus Diaz]

Maybe Oklahoma will have their own "Palmer Divide" now.

 

[Todd Lemery]

2-3 million doesn't exactly buy a whole lot of wall. It must not be a very tall wall they're talking about. I'm guessing they are looking at a pretty limited wall protecting a residential neighborhood. They'll probably build that and then start looking to keep expanding it over time. Can't imagine it being very cost effective though.....

 

[Ric Burney]

2 - 3 million could be better spent on storm shelters and educating the public what to do during severe weather.

 

[Caleb Grunzke]

2 - 3 million could be better spent on storm shelters and educating the public what to do during severe weather.

Logical things like these don't happen in Oklahoma.

 

[Brady Kendrick]

Wow is all I have to say haha. Seems like they just want build one of those big concrete walls (like they have along I-40 on the west side through Yukon) that blocks out the interstate from the residential area but they are probably playing the 'tornado and storm' card to get public support for the project maybe. I really hope they don't think this will make a difference the next time a EF-5 comes through but then again, nothing surprises me in this state when it comes to those in power and their idiodic decisions/stances.

 

[Steve Miller]

Being a resident of Moore, we are exposed to every aspect of the tornado... The belief is that many of the homes on the east side of I35 would not have been damaged if it weren't for debris flying across the highway from the hospital and neighborhood(s) to the west. The idea is an interruption of flow at the surface will deflect airborne debris.
We'll see what happens but in the meantime it should help deflect some of the noise from I35, right?

 

[Jason Foster]

I get if they were building a sound wall (much like the tons of ones lining the highways in the northeast and other major urban cities). But a debris break, sorry...not at all logical.

 

[Warren Faidley]

It would be interesting to know how many people actually lost their lives as a result of wall-level debris crossing 1-35.

I see a host of issues with this project, but as someone who has worked in the debris piles of two Moore tornadoes, I can appreciate the efforts.

1: The airborne debris field of a major tornado will easily top the proposed wall.

2: What about other residents? They are going to want their own walls. Where does it stop? Walls around hospitals, fire stations, schools, etc.

3: I believe people will begin to think such walls offer some kind of substantial tornado protection. This can lead to all kinds of false safety issues, especially if walls become more common.

4: The money would be better spent building shelters or more so, fortifying safe rooms in schools.

If the main purpose was to stop highway noise, I could understand, but I think this will encourage a wall building frenzy that will do little or no good.

It would be interesting to get some feedback from engineers.

W.

 

[Bob Schafer]

My first reaction is that the idea is completely asinine, but in deference to those of you who gave calm, thoughtful replies about this I will also offer some other things to chew on.

Yeah, yeah, I know Moore has been the victim of three huge tornadoes since 1999, and that they have a sign on the road as you enter town that says "Welcome to Moore. No tornadoes for ____ days", but I once read somewhere that the average frequency of a significant tornado affecting any given location, in Tornado Alley, is something like once every 10,000 years. Or maybe it was 1000 years.

Regardless, I'd be willing to bet a decent amount of money that any "wall" will never accomplish anything worthwhile for the next 100 years.

 

[Robert Forry]

What Ric said is the most common sense thing to do...

2 - 3 million could be better spent on storm shelters and educating the public what to do during severe weather.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

I guess I'm missing the connection from this story to tornadoes other than a resident implying it would help with tornado debris in an interview. I think it will most likely be like the walls on I-40 in Yukon as mentioned earlier.


"Moore city officials said the wall will shield residents as much as it can from daily debris, noise and strong winds."


Edit: I'm taking "daily debris" in this instance to mean small things like plastic bags, cups, etc. I could see where a wall might keep this stuff out of people's back yards and keep sound down.

 

[James Gustina]

I was confused by the wording as well. It seems like it's just a way to sell a sound wall on the interstate which is really necessary across from the Warren. All those houses are just right on the interstate. Also looks like KOCO removed the weird wording regarding severe storms and tornadoes in that article.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Yeah I think it's mostly a sound wall. They just put one up in Norman as well along I-35 south of Main Street. I can understand wanting a sound barrier, the noise from the highway must be annoying.

Then again, who buys a house next to an interstate, then rebuilds after a tornado levels it and complains about sound?

 

[Kevin Rimcoski]

Sounds like they may be playing off people's emotions from the recent event to gain more support
Depending the strength of the next tornado, I see the wall creating more and heavier debris for the community