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PRJ-3298 | Local Perceptions on Building Safety and Building Performance after the 2019 EF4 Linwood, Kansas Tornado
PI
Project TypeField research | Interdisciplinary | Engineering
Natural Hazard Type(s)Tornado
Event(s)
2019 EF4 Linwood Tornado | Linwood, Kansas | 2019-05-28 ― 2019-05-28 | Lat 39.004180 long -95.042078
Awards
Weather Ready Research Award program supported by the NSF | 1635593
KeywordsContractors, Tornado, Risk Perception, KU Community
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Description:

Kansas has the second-highest frequency of reported tornadoes in the U.S., yet, most counties and many local jurisdictions lack modern building codes with basic lateral force system requirements, thereby minimum levels of protection against tornadic winds. On May 28, 2019, an EF4 tornado struck north-eastern Kansas; the 32-mile long path destroyed approximately 40 building structures and damaged nearly 200 building structures. A post-tornado investigation by the researchers revealed a lack of continuous load path, and in some cases, lacking even basic structural elements, such as anchor bolts or mechanically fastened walls to foundations. These statistics and observations led the research team to question what were local perceptions on building safety and expectations of building performance during tornadoes, what would happen if a tornado were to hit closer to the University of Kansas (KU) campus, and what types of better designs are known of or offered by local contractors. This research project includes two survey efforts addressing research questions on local perceptions on building safety and expectations of building performance during tornadoes. The first survey effort documented local contractors’ perceptions of tornado-resistant residential building design. The first survey effort utilized a convenience sample of local contractors attending a continuing education course on how to provide a continuous load path. The survey was administered in person; no personally identified information was collected. The convenience sample size was 45 and resulted in a response rate of approximately 60%. The second survey effort was initiated as part of a senior capstone project. The capstone project assessed the risk perception and sheltering decision of the KU campus community after the EF4 Linwood tornado. It was administered online using email listservs for KU’s Schools and Colleges for recruitment, inviting participants to complete a short Qualtrics survey. The response rate was low, with only 228 responses. This publication contains the Institutional Review Board Protocols, two Survey Instruments, which included in-person, and virtual surveying modes and questions on tornado risk perception, and, as well as the data for the contractor survey and the capstone project.

Document Collection | Data Report on Local Perceptions on Building Safety and Building Performance after the 2019 EF4 Linwood Tornado
Cite This Data:
Mazumder, R., E. Sutley, M. Dumler (2021). "Data Report on Local Perceptions on Building Safety and Building Performance after the 2019 EF4 Linwood Tornado", in Local Perceptions on Building Safety and Building Performance after the 2019 EF4 Linwood, Kansas Tornado. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-hkcv-xp72

Mission | Tornado Risk Perception of University of Kansas Campus Community
Cite This Data:
Wang, T., M. Dumler, R. Mazumder, E. Sutley (2021). "Tornado Risk Perception of University of Kansas Campus Community", in Local Perceptions on Building Safety and Building Performance after the 2019 EF4 Linwood, Kansas Tornado. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-dw38-z509

Mission | Contractor’s Perceptions of Tornado-Resistant Building Design
Cite This Data:
Dumler, M., E. Sutley, R. Lequesne (2021). "Contractor’s Perceptions of Tornado-Resistant Building Design", in Local Perceptions on Building Safety and Building Performance after the 2019 EF4 Linwood, Kansas Tornado. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-f9db-p423

Data Depot | DesignSafe-CI