I'm glad you asked. A continuous load path refers to how forces, like wind, uplift, and lateral pressure, are transferred from the roof, down through the walls, and into the foundation. Each connection in the structure needs to be strong so the forces can move all the way to the ground without breaking the chain. It doesn’t have to do with debris impacts, but rather how the structure holds together under stress.
I don't care it should be rated EF4. I am sick and tired of all these nit picky excuses to not rate a tornado as EF4 and EF5. MEG is also a notoriously stupid office.
You the surveyor you know that this being extremely nit picky in rating tornadoes EF4 or EF5. Honestly, what would be wrong in calling the house as a 170 mph EF4 than a 160 mph EF3. Pretty much nothing. This construction was much better than the Newnan, GA tornado for 4 years and it was improperly rated EF4.
Of course the minute I knew them violent tornadoes that had done EF4 damage and which NWS office that was doing the survey I knew the fate of those tornado ratings had been sealed.
Similar to the EF4 house in Tylertown, MS. Well-anchored house mostly, but not totally slabbed, debris piled on and near the foundation. Low to mid-range EF4. The only difference is the Tylertown house was a bit larger.
Tell MEG that JAN makes them look like a steaming pile of cow dung.
That particular house was surveyed by New Orleans. But due to the generous EF4 di at the end of that track in Jackson’s CWA the point still stands strong.
Now I’m shocked that MEG of all cwa’s deterrmined the tristate tornado from 2021 to be an EF4.
I’m still annoyed they didn’t rate the extraordinary tree debarking near Buckeye, AR EF4. It is 100% up there with some of the most violent tree damage i’ve ever seen and was eerily reminiscent of Bassfield.
Jackson 2008....EF4(170 mph)
Ridiculous
I guarantee you that rating the Smithville, MS 2011 tornado an EF5 involved internal screaming from MEG surveyors. I think they knew that they wouldn't get by with only rating the Smithville 2011 tornado a high-end EF4.
Tri State was pretty accurate in my opinion. The homes it swept away weren’t of superb construction if I remember.
I think the context was more telling of a 190 mph high-end EF4 for that tornado.
Jackson 2008 was probably around a 180 to 190 mph EF4 and Holly Springs was probably another 190 mph EF4.
NWS Jackson, Mississippi assisted Memphis with these damage surveys.
