Mobile Homes Raise Concerns After Deadly Tornadoes

On March 2, devastating tornadoes ripped through Indiana and Kentucky, killing 34 people. Two-thirds of the people who were killed died in mobile homes, despite only making up 14 percent of housing in Kentucky and 6 percent in Indiana, which has raised major concerns over the safety of mobile homes.

The National Severe Storm Center has found that residents of mobile homes are 10 to 20 times more likely to die in a tornado than people living in conventional houses. From 2006 to 2011, of the 823 people who were killed in tornadoes in the U.S., 31 percent died while fleeing mobile homes, which account for eight percent of the homes in the U.S.

According to USA Today, the Manufactured Housing Institute contends that mobile homes built after 1976 are just as safe as conventional housing, but a review by The Courier-Journal’s review of the property records of the county shows that seven of the 14 mobile homes in which deaths occurred on March 2 were newer models.

If you or someone you know has been harmed by an unsafe mobile home, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation. A product liability lawyer may be able to help you.