Rowlett TX, tornado

EF-5bigj · #21 Postby **EF-5bigj** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:11 pm

Well built homes?

#22 Postby **Tireman4** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:15 pm

For those who live in Rowlett or know Rowlett. ..was any of the damage near Straits Avenue?

#23 Postby **Alyono** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:16 pm

don't know if they were well built

EF-5bigj · #24 Postby **EF-5bigj** » Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:18 pm

Well leveling a apt building is impressive anyway.

TexasStooge · #25 Postby **TexasStooge** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:04 am

I was watching the coverage on WFAA-TV. It was just so unreal.

I'm still reeling over the fact that it could've been me and my family & friends here in Irving, had it not divert to the northeast. Nevertheless, my thoughts and prayers go out to those who were hit the hardest as well as the families & friends of those that lost their lives tonight. :cry:

EF-5bigj · #26 Postby **EF-5bigj** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:23 am

I'm glad your family is safe sadly I'm hearing the death toll has risen to 8

#27 Postby **brunota2003** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 4:38 am

From some of the photos I saw, I would say at least an upper end EF3/lower end EF4. I've seen a couple photos of what appeared to be foundations swept clean, with the debris pushed just off to the side...but I'm not sure what those buildings were exactly, or the construction type. Highly possible, if those were well built homes, we get a high end EF4...not sure if anything would rate a 5, though.

Heard there were vehicles thrown off of one of the elevated freeways (it was at the intersection of N/S and E/W freeways), and that what was left of the vehicles were basically mangled, unrecognizable chunks of metal. That is also where 5 of the deaths occurred.

#28 Postby **Alyono** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:32 am

11 now confirmed dead.

More than twice as many people were killed last week from tornadoes than the rest of the year combined

#29 Postby **Alyono** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:52 am

looking at some areal footage, I'd say this may have been an EF4

#30 Postby **gatorcane** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:54 am

Saw some of the pics. Wow, unbelievable damage. Some of the houses looked large and relatively new too.

#31 Postby **Alyono** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:46 pm

rated as an EF4 in Garland. Rowlett was rated as EF3

EF-5bigj · #32 Postby **EF-5bigj** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 1:04 pm

It could go up rating wise I believe given the damage...

#33 Postby **Alyono** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 1:36 pm

I have not seen anything from damage or data that indicates EF5

EF-5bigj · #34 Postby **EF-5bigj** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 6:02 pm

You are right a high end EF-4 is a good rating.

#35 Postby **Tireman4** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 6:19 pm

Ok. Update from my best friend. Get this. The massive devestation is 1/2 mile from his house. One 1/2 mile. He did not have any damage. Zero. Wow. Just wow.

EF-5bigj · #36 Postby **EF-5bigj** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 8:41 pm

Tornadoes are strange things I've heard about things like that devestation all around but a house is untouched in middle of it all.

#37 Postby **Tireman4** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 9:08 pm

Ok. Update from my best friend. Get this. The massive devestation is 1/2 mile from his house. One 1/2 mile. He did not have any damage. Zero. Wow. Just wow.

#38 Postby **brunota2003** » Sun Jan 03, 2016 7:54 am

If any of you guys want to see some interesting stuff, find Tim Marshall's FaceBook page! He was out assisting in the surveys. Of note: he found numerous occasions where the houses were NOT properly anchored to the foundation (this was widespread, in both old construction and new construction), and quite a few spots where it looked like EF4 damage occurred, it was actually rated as EF3 because of the anchoring (or lack thereof). There was even an elementary school that had an outside wall fail in winds they estimated were only 70-80 mph...a wall that, as Tim described it, was in essence "free standing" because it pretty much wasn't anchored to the foundation OR secured to the frame of the building. The school was built in 2008!

Cyclenall · #39 Postby **Cyclenall** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 3:02 am

I'm a bit confused about the multiple tornadoes in eastern Dallas suburbs such as the EF4 in Garland and EF3 or whatever in Rowlett. I only remember one main one and there is video of only one. Same supercell? Anyways I knew it was EF4 from moment one. What a day.

Tireman4 wrote:Ok. Update from my best friend. Get this. The massive devestation is 1/2 mile from his house. One 1/2 mile. He did not have any damage. Zero. Wow. Just wow.

Wondering, you posted the exact same thing 3 hours apart?

brunota2003 wrote:There was even an elementary school that had an outside wall fail in winds they estimated were only 70-80 mph...a wall that, as Tim described it, was in essence "free standing" because it pretty much wasn't anchored to the foundation OR secured to the frame of the building. The school was built in 2008!

The school was built in tornado alley and 8 years ago...what an epic facepalm. Short-cutting structure design in that region is costing people's lives. The dollar is more important than people's safety.

#40 Postby **Tireman4** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 7:14 am

Sorry. I guess it was my internet. I was posting from my Nook. Oops. My friend has been out helping those clean up. He is still astounded by the damage.

Rowlett TX, tornado

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