Tornadoes are both devastating and costly.
Some of the highest winds ever recorded came from within tornadoes. Although they can land just about anywhere, most tornadoes often land within tornado alley. On October 20, 2019 an EF3 tornado ripped through Dallas, Texas destroying hundreds of buildings in its 18-mile-long path. Based on the amount of damage and devastation left in the path of the tornado, it was amazing that no deaths were recorded. Still, it has been determined to be the costliest tornado to ever hit Texas with damages totaling over 2 billion dollars.
During our inspections we have seen the most unbelievable damage from this EF3. Interior walls blown 2 feet out of line, but the roof remained in place. Entire roofs were lifted then set right back down in their original place. It’s only when I walk through the damages that I know how strong tornadoes really are. Most tornadoes require a structural engineer to determine the structural integrity of the buildings affected. Remember that tornadoes are the wild card, and anything can happen with them. Do not let anything go unnoticed.
According to the Glossary of Meteorology, a tornado is “a rotating column of air, in contact with the surface, pendant from a cumuliform cloud, and often visible as a funnel cloud and/or circulating debris/dust at the ground.” Tornadoes can be defined in many ways; still, one constant in all definitions is that a tornado must come in contact with the ground and a convective cloud at the same time, so ‘tornado on the ground’ is redundant because by definition, a tornado is only a tornado when it has touched the ground.
Here are some signs where a structural engineer should be called:
• Fresh cracks around bar joists or supports
• Bulging brick or cracks on the corners
• Cracks in the drywall
• Doors and windows do not shut properly
• Cabinet doors do not shut
• Cracks around windows and doors
• Nail Pops or fastener pops
• Bowed or leaning walls
• Insulation sucked down
Taken from the best-selling book, Storm Damage Assessment: A Practical Guide for Assessing Storm Damage by Don Lamont, which can be purchased here: tinyurl.com/stormdamageassessment
If your property has been suffered tornado damage, contact us. As your trusted public adjusters we work to ensure you receive the compensation your insurance company rightly owes you, and give you peace of mind throughout the process.