I am a National Weather Service Skywarn spotter, and a storm chaser. I also reside in a manufactured home, fortunately (well, I like it stormy) in a state with little severe weather. But as I know well, and as is evidenced from [last week's Georgia tornado fatalities], it is not safe to be in a manufactured home during tornadic weather.

Continually I read reports of people that claim that they had no warnings. They didn't get a NWS alert, the power went out, they didn't have the TV on, etc.

I think that can be fixed. I propose that mobile homes be required to have installed a weather warning radio, something similar to a smoke alarm. This device would only be triggered by warnings, and would probably cost about the same as a smoke alarm. It would be cheap to make and could be built into new homes and easily installed in existing structures.

Then no one could say that they couldn't hear a warning because it was late at night, the power was out, etc.

Please give this concept serious consideration, as a simple way to save lives. If you have any questions, or would like more information, you can contact me at the e-mail address below, or during the day at 541-753-3137, or 541-757-3487.

P.S.: Though it wouldn't stop the destruction, wouldn't it be nice to report after a significant tornado that though mobile homes were destroyed, “there were no fatalities”?

Richard Halter
Corvallis, Ore.
rjhstorm@proaxis.com

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