Key recommendations include proposed changes to building codes, assessments of all new and existing critical facilities for use as tornado refuge areas, proposed protections to schools and further study into the behavior of individuals seeking refuge during tornadoes.

Identify best-available tornado refuge areas in the absence of a safe room, storm shelter, or hardened area.

Adopt and implement current model building codes.

The conclusions and hundreds of photos presented in FEMA P-908 stem from core needs to: The MAT report focuses primarily on the performance of the following types of construction:

The MAT report is a compilation of input from a team of over 200 design and construction experts from various industry groups, academic institutions, non-profit associations, government agencies, and small businesses.įEMA P-908 presents the MAT observations with 47 conclusions, and 49 recommendations directed at improving public safety and building performance during tornado events. Inman Intermediate School in Nixa, Mo., sit in their schools FEMA tornado shelter during a tornado drill. It sets forth the MAT performance assessments of structures affected by the tornadoes, investigations of safe room and storm shelter performance, and documented lessons learned to help mitigate the loss of life and damage to buildings from future tornado events. Shelter from the storm: Joplin tornado spurs. The MAT report is titled FEMA P-908, Mitigation Assessment Team Report – Spring 2011 Tornadoes: April 25-28 and May 22 Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance (May 2012). Less than a month later, a powerful 0.75-mile-wide tornado struck Joplin, MO, destroying thousands of homes FEMA once again deployed the MAT, on June 1, 2011, to assess the tornado damage in Joplin. In response to this devastation, the FEMA Building Science Branch of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) deployed a Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) to Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee on to assess the damage caused by tornadoes occurring April 25 through April 28, 2011. This report is also dedicated to the families, friends, and communities suffering from their loss. The Spring 2011 Tornado MAT Report is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the April 25–28, 2011 tornadoes in the southeastern United States and the tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri. Today on the one year anniversary of the tragic Joplin, Missouri tornado, FEMA is pleased to release publication P-908. Hats off to these individuals who are working with Joplin’s School District leaders to keep Missouri residents safe and secure one construction day at a time.Release of FEMA P-908 - 2011 Tornado MAT Report These safety endeavors would not be possible without the incredible support of the people of Joplin and their School District, and the direct efforts of the project’s team leads: Jeff Gattis (Senior Project Manager), Marty Schmidt (General Superintendent), David Simkins (Superintendent), Randy Peterie (Superintendent), Dana Johnson (Superintendent), James Monhollon (Project Engineer), and Stephen Giggleman (Project Engineer). Nabholz is honored to be involved in a program designed to protect thousands of residents in the Joplin community from some of Mother Nature’s most severe storms. In addition, summer renovation work is set to take place at 9 of the 11 schools over the next three months. The remaining six are progressing unhindered. Joplin Schools recently took possession of five of the 11 safe rooms. Nabholz has made fast-moving progress on these projects in order to serve the Joplin School District’s urgent mission of making Joplin and Duquesne tornado-proof. Students, staff, and surrounding community members can all find shelter in these structures during a storm.

Each of these 11 Joplin safe rooms serves a dual purpose, doubling as school gymnasiums, and can hold between 1,000 and 1,500 people. These FEMA safe rooms are built to withstand winds exceeding 250 mph. After an EF-5 tornado devastated the community of Joplin, MO in 2011, the Joplin School District hired Nabholz to construct 11 FEMA-rated safe rooms and perform extensive renovations at 11 district locations.

Joplin missouri tornado safe rooms