USA: Strong building codes can mitigate tornado damage

"Mother Nature is clearly sending us a message and we need our lawmakers in Congress to respond with a national strategy that will make our communities safer from natural disasters," writes Joseph Myers, CEO of Disasters, Strategies, and Ideas Group, a two-time past president of the National Emergency Managers Association and a former director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management in the Detroit Free Press.

He adds that "those of us who work in emergency management know that strong building codes work. Now it’s time for our elected leaders in Congress to follow Congresswoman Miller’s lead and pass the Safe Building Code Incentive Act. With climate experts predicting more extreme weather patterns in the months and years ahead, it is not enough for Congress to sit back and hope for the best. We need action before the next round of major storms pounds the nation."