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The Determinants of Tornado Casualties and the Benefits of Tornado Shelters

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  • David Merrell
  • Kevin M. Simmons
  • Daniel Sutter

Abstract

Several recent powerful tornadoes have raised interest among the public and policymakers in tornado shelters. We estimate casualty functions (fatalities, injuries) based on factors like storm intensity, county population density, and time of day, using historical data from Oklahoma and then estimate expected tornado casualties for Oklahoma using historical tornado frequencies assuming no further market penetration of shelters. We then calculate the cost per life saved and injury prevented for shelters. The cost per life saved for shelters in permanent homes without discounting is around $30 million. Shelters will then provide cost effective protection for residents of mobile homes.

Suggested Citation

  • David Merrell & Kevin M. Simmons & Daniel Sutter, 2005. "The Determinants of Tornado Casualties and the Benefits of Tornado Shelters," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 81(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:81:y:2005:i:1:p87-99
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lim, Jungmin & Loveridge, Scott & Shupp, Robert & Skidmore, Mark, 2017. "Double danger in the double wide: Dimensions of poverty, housing quality and tornado impacts," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 1-15.
    2. Chiradip Chatterjee & Pallab Mozumder, 2014. "Understanding Household Preferences for Hurricane Risk Mitigation Information: Evidence from Survey Responses," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(6), pages 984-996, June.
    3. Jungmin Lim & Mark Skidmore, 2019. "Flood Fatalities in the United States: The Roles of Socioeconomic Factors and the National Flood Insurance Program," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 85(4), pages 1032-1057, April.
    4. Kevin M. Simmons & Daniel Sutter, 2006. "Direct Estimation of the Cost Effectiveness of Tornado Shelters," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(4), pages 945-954, August.
    5. Bradley Ewing & Jamie Kruse & Mark Thompson, 2009. "Twister! Employment responses to the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma City tornado," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(6), pages 691-702.
    6. Scott Pataya & Liang Daan, 2016. "What is the Economics of Wind Hazard Mitigation?," Journal of Business Valuation and Economic Loss Analysis, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 25-29, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • Q27 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Issues in International Trade

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