Stronger Building Codes Could Have Saved More in Joplin Tornado
Stronger building codes, more storm shelters and improved emergency communication systems could have significantly reduced the death toll and the costs of rebuilding from the 2011 Joplin tornado.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is part of the U.S. Commerce Department, released its 492-page draft report in Joplin at a Missouri Southern State University news conference. The agency called the study the first to take a systematic look at how communities across the country can better prepare for tornadoes — in essence, how to prevent another Joplin-scale disaster.