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Tornado Damage Mitigation: Homeowner Support for Enhanced Building Codes in Oklahoma

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  • Joseph T. Ripberger
  • Hank C. Jenkins‐Smith
  • Carol L. Silva
  • Jeffrey Czajkowski
  • Howard Kunreuther
  • Kevin M. Simmons

Abstract

Tornadoes impose enormous costs on society. Relatively simple and inexpensive enhancements to building codes may reduce these costs by 30% or more, but only one city in the United States has adopted these codes. Why is this the case? This analysis addresses this question by examining homeowner support for more stringent building codes in Oklahoma, a conservative state that routinely experiences damaging tornadoes. Survey data show that support for mandatory mitigation policies like building codes is subject to countervailing forces. Push dynamics, including objective risk data, homeowners’ risk perceptions, and damage experience, encourage support for mitigation. Pull dynamics, such as individualistic and conservative worldviews, and skepticism about climate change, generate opposition. At the margin, the pull dynamics appear to exert more force than push dynamics, creating only a weak basis of support that is not strong enough to overcome the status quo bias in a state that is cautious about regulatory measures. The concluding section offers suggestions for changing these dynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph T. Ripberger & Hank C. Jenkins‐Smith & Carol L. Silva & Jeffrey Czajkowski & Howard Kunreuther & Kevin M. Simmons, 2018. "Tornado Damage Mitigation: Homeowner Support for Enhanced Building Codes in Oklahoma," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(11), pages 2300-2317, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:38:y:2018:i:11:p:2300-2317
    DOI: 10.1111/risa.13131
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jantsje M. Mol & W. J. Wouter Botzen & Julia E. Blasch & Hans de Moel, 2020. "Insights into Flood Risk Misperceptions of Homeowners in the Dutch River Delta," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(7), pages 1450-1468, July.
    2. Morgan J. Breen & Abiy S. Kebede & Carola S. König, 2022. "The Safe Development Paradox in Flood Risk Management: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Mitchel Stimers & Bimal Kanti Paul, 2023. "Visualizing the May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri, Tornado path using building permits," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(2), pages 1461-1474, January.
    4. Peng Qiao & Wei Chen & Jun Zhao & Jingyi Gao & Guofang Zhai, 2022. "Factors Associated with Housing Damage Caused by an EF4 Tornado in Rural Areas of Funing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Paul J. Croft, 2019. "Environmental Hazards: A Coverage Response Approach," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.

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