Study highlighting risk of destruction from tornado ranks Jasper County toward top

Feb. 27—Online For more information about Roof Gnome's study using FEMA data and numbers, go to https://roofgnome.com/blog/studies/most-vulnerable-counties-tornado-damage/#rankings. For more details on Severe Weather Awareness Week, go to https://www.weather.gov/sgf/SevereWeather

PreparednessWeek. According to the National Weather Service, each day in the week has a different theme: Monday, receiving weather information; Tuesday, lightning safety; Wednesday, tornado safety; Thursday, wind and hail; and Friday, the dangers of flooding.

A survey identifying which counties face the biggest risks of destruction from a tornado ranked Jasper County toward the top.

The survey, "2024's Most Vulnerable Counties for Tornado Damage," was published by Roof Gnome, an online site covering the roofing and solar panel industry, and assessed 950 counties in the U.S. with "a relatively moderate to very high tornado risk according to FEMA."

Jasper County ranked 48th among those 950 counties for risk of damage or loss of life from a tornado.

Texas, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas had the most counties ranked in the top 100, but the study noted tornado frequency has increased farther north and east, with six Michigan and five Ohio counties in the top 100.

"More specifically, we looked at tornado risk and expected annual loss from tornadoes," Roof Gnome said in its report. "We also considered the average age of homes and whether states have adopted construction codes for tornado resilience, among five total metrics."

The study noted that communities in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois "have many older homes and have not adopted current building standards from the International Residential Code and International Building Code. Building codes — like stronger roofs, safe rooms and impact-resistant windows — help increase structural resilience against extreme weather events.

Missouri was well represented in the top-tier counties. The city of St. Louis ranked fourth, Jackson County ranked fifth, and St. Louis County came in 10th.

Greene County ranked 64th, Newton County 189th.

Jeff Herman, editor-in-chief of Roof Gnome, said he was surprised that Jasper County didn't rank higher, given its history with severe weather, particularly the May 22, 2011, tornado. That tornado destroyed a third of Joplin, killed 161 people and did $2.8 billion in damage to homes and businesses. That tornado still ranks as the costliest single tornado in American history and the seventh deadliest in history, with the top six deadliest tornadoes coming before the advent of tornado warnings and watches. The Joplin tornado was the deadliest since 1947.

"FEMA doesn't necessarily calculate things for those historic storms like swept through Joplin," Herman said. "FEMA is looking at what the risk is in any given year and projecting the annual cost in terms of what it would cost to rebuild after a tornado hits."

FEMA is reporting the cost for Jasper County at $28 million for tornado-related damage in a given year.

According to Roof Gnome, the U.S. records an average of 1,200 tornadoes annually, but nearly two-thirds of U.S. counties, cities and towns are behind on mandating the most up-to-date building codes.

The Joplin City Council imposed some requirements as Joplin rebuilt from the 2011 tornado, with the most significant changes being a mandate for hurricane straps and new anchor bolt guidelines. Many homeowners went further, adding tornado shelters, although that was not required by the city, and many businesses and schools also took steps on their own to prepare for another severe tornado. Most schools in the region, for example, have added large FEMA-approved storm shelters that are also open to residents.

The study came out just before Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 4-8, in Kansas and Missouri, which will include the statewide tornado drill, when everyone is encouraged to look at their own tornado safety plan, including where they will go in their home or workplaces in case of a tornado, and other safety plans.

"The most important message is we know that Missouri is in tornado alley," Herman said. "We have to be more prepared than people across the U.S for tornadoes. They may have hurricanes, they may have landslides they're dealing with, but for us, we have to be prepared and pay attention to those sirens, know when to take cover. We're at more risk than any other place, and that means we have to be more prepared and know where people are so you can protect them in the event that something like this happens."

Herman said teaching children as early as possible what to do if they hear those tornado sirens is vital.

"Make sure your kids know what to do and know that they know how to take cover," Herman said. "A tornado can hit when you're at soccer practice, baseball practice, baseball games. They've got to know what to do."

The National Weather Service said it will issue its routine weekly tornado test over the NOAA weather radios in conjunction with the statewide tornado drill at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 6.

"The purpose of the drill is to test everyone's readiness for life-threatening severe weather events such as tornadoes, flash floods, and damaging winds," the National Weather Service said on its website. "Local officials may sound warning sirens to initiate the drill."

Dave Holden, emergency management director for Joplin and Jasper County, said communities across the county will sound their local sirens in conjunction with the tornado drill.

On Tuesday, Holden told Jasper County commissioners that he encouraged everyone to consider this a real tornado drill and go through the safety procedures they would normally follow if a real tornado warning had been issued.