StEER has released its joint PVRR-EARR for the 10 December Tornado Outbreak:

Pilkington, S. Roueche, D. Gutierrez Soto, M. Alam, M. Napolitano, R. Kijewski-Correa, T. Prevatt, D. Kaushal, S. Nakayama, J. Saleem, M. Ibrahim, H. Lyda, A. Lester, H. Caballero Russi, D. Gurley, K. Robertson, I. Lombardo, F. (2021) "StEER: 10 December 2021 Midwest Tornado Outbreak Joint Preliminary Virtual Reconnaissance Report and Early Access Reconnaissance Report (PVRR-EARR)", in StEER - 10 December 2021 Midwest Tornado Outbreak. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-2b2k-ws96.

Importantly, this joint report underscores the need to design for tornadoes in high-exposure regions, a more realistic proposition given the recent release of ASCE 7-22 and its new tornado load provisions.

The FAST utilized rapid imagery capture methods to document accessible areas in Mayfield and other affected communities in Kentucky using street-level panoramic imaging, unmanned aerial vehicles, LiDAR scans of notable case studies, and forensic load path assessments using StEER’s Fulcrum mobile app, with particular emphasis on structures where details of the load path were visible and “success stories.” The timing of data collection allowed a number of sites in Mayfield to be documented before extensive demolition/debris removal, though some sites were still restricted due to recovery efforts.

As detailed in the PVRR-EARR, these data can be particularly advantageous in supporting future engineering investigations in the following topical areas:

• TOPIC 1: Performance of essential and critical facilities

• TOPIC 2: Safe room performance

• TOPIC 3: Performance of critical infrastructure

• TOPIC 4: Tilt-up structure performance

• TOPIC 5: Storage silo performance

• TOPIC 6: Recovery model development

StEER also notes a number of topics in policy and practice that warrant further attention in the wake of these tornadoes:

• TOPIC I: Promoting design for tornadoes

• TOPIC II: Preservation of life safety in tornadoes

• TOPIC III: Public response to tornado warnings

• TOPIC IV: Promotion of storm shelters

While these and other research topics are worthy of additional study, due to StEER’s mandate and the timing of clean-up relative to the approaching holidays, StEER does not anticipate deploying additional on-site FAST teams. The timing of this FAST was too soon to access some areas restricted by local authorities. Thus, StEER is eager to coordinate with other teams who decide to deploy, using RAPID funding or other funding sources, and strongly encourages them to make use of StEER’s archived data and where appropriate, share/coordinate their plans with StEER.