Natural disasters effect everyday life not only immediately after the event but long after the community has rebuilt. Since the ultimate goal... Show moreNatural disasters effect everyday life not only immediately after the event but long after the community has rebuilt. Since the ultimate goal of the structural engineer is predicated on life safety, it would be irresponsible to allow the damages of the 2011 tornado season to go unaddressed. Appropriate research and development must be made into a priority for the governing bodies in charge of funding these activities. The data collected from the 2011 season should be more than enough to raise awareness to those responsible for such decisions. The first portion of this study is dedicated to elaborating on the past developments, current advancements, and speculating on future trends of governing standards. It is also helpful to associate these trends alongside data resulting from seismic activities in our nation, which we know to have great success in numbers. Current tendencies are revealed through a case study of (3) elementary schools built in the aftermath of a disaster stricken community in Flint, Michigan. Seismic provisions found its’ greatest breakthrough following the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, where it was deemed federal law that all schools must uphold the standard that their structures are capable of withstanding earthquake forces. There should be no doubt that this would similarly prove to be a critical first step in protecting children in communities subjected to high-wind forces. If the successes of seismic provisions have any indication on the possibilities of properly funded research and development, then there should countless lessons to be learned across the range of topics covered here. With the incorporation of a federally funded network of facilities and better research data to rely on, design professionals can begin utilizing more adequate connection details into their structures. It is this top-down approach toward change that should move us closer toward creating sufficient design standards and in effect hitting the main objective of this profession, life safety. M.S. in Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, May 2012 Show less
