Lubbock Tornado: A Survey of Building Damage in an Urban Area. Technical Note.
Lubbock Tornado: A Survey of Building Damage in an
Urban Area. Technical Note.
(7179 K)
Somes, N. F.; Dikkers, R. D.; Boone, T. H.
NBS TN 558; March 1971.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: COM-71-50072
Keywords:
tornadoes, damage assessment; buildings; surveys; urban
areas; statistical data; anchors (structures);
performance; disasters; Texas; houses; trailers; hail;
glazing (windows); masonry; roofs; structural
engineering; wind pressure
Abstract:
The Building Research Division of the National Bureau of
Standards' Institute of Applied Technology sent a
three-man team to investigate the damage to buildings
and other structures caused by the tornado which struck
Lubbock, Texas, on May 11, 1970. The team members--the
authors of this report--carried out photographic surveys
on the ground and from a helicopter on the days of May
14, 15, and 16, 1970. The report is based largely on
data gathered during this period but includes some data
provided by other agencies and individuals whose
assistance is acknowledged in the report. The report
concludes that current good practice in the design and
construction of buildings and mobile homes would have
greatly reduce the damage observed at Lubbock. It also
notes that natural disasters provide full-scale tests of
buildings and urges the development of performance
criteria with respect to wind loads for certain building
elements. (Author)
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899