Unpacking Tornado Disasters: Illustrating Southeastern US Tornado Mobile and Manufactured Housing Problem Using March 3, 2019 Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, Tornado Event

Abstract

This study illustrates and describes how Southeast US tornado disasters commonly unfold by examining the 2019 Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, tornado event from spatiotemporal and structural engineering standpoints. Findings indicate that although the meteorological forecasts leading up to the tornado event were accurate and timely, 23 individuals—19 in manufactured homes—still perished. All fatalities were primarily a result of the lack of positive ground anchoring on homes where individuals were killed. Altogether, the Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, tornado event resulted in a housing fatality rate seven times greater than the 2011 Joplin, Missouri, EF5 tornado at least in part due to a disproportionately larger number of manufactured homes exposed to violent tornado winds. Methods applied in this research should be utilized by future studies documenting tornadoes so that patterns in structural failure mechanisms and mortality can be determined. Integrated warning teams consisting of National Weather Service forecasters, emergency managers, media partners, etc. and members of the manufactured housing industry should work together using the results from this study to initiate a dialogue aimed at developing and improving tornado disaster mitigation, response, and recovery strategies.