Exploring southeast US mobile and manufactured home residents’ anchoring decisions

Abstract

Forensic engineering assessments of tornado damage have consistently shown that inadequate or absence of anchorage of mobile and manufactured homes (MMHs) has been the primary cause of structure failure, leading to high tornado fatality rates in the Southeast United States. Therefore, it is important to determine whether these residents have anchored their homes and their underlying motivations. This research quantitatively explored various factors influencing Southeast US MMH residents’ current anchorage decisions and qualitatively explored other contextual factors for these decisions, including general mitigation knowledge and financial means. Results showed age, insurance, community shelter access, and self-efficacy perceptions reliably distinguished those who have already anchored their homes from those who have not and have no intentions to do so. On the other hand, among those who have not already anchored their homes, only tornado risk perceptions marginally distinguished those with intentions to anchor from those without. Also, those not already anchored were least likely to believe in the five tested myths and were potentially willing to spend $500–$999 on general mitigation, though few had ever considered fortifying their MMH and cost was the most cited barrier to doing so. The majority of participants knew nothing about the wind resistance of their home and only half of the sample knew the mitigation term, “manufactured home tie-down.” The knowledge gained here can help various public-facing communication entities design effective outreach materials to facilitate this population better protecting themselves from tornadoes by way of strengthening their vulnerable homes.