Indiana Tornado Mobile Home Deaths

A family of five in New Pekin, two men in Holton and a Scott County man all were in mobile homes when they died or were fatally injured in southern Indiana tornadoes on March 2. The Courier Journal reported that nearly two-thirds of all 13 Indiana victims were in mobile homes at the time even though such housing makes up just 6 percent of Indiana homes.

Officials say mobile homes are more vulnerable in tornadoes than conventional homes but the Manufactured Housing Institute, an industry group, contends that mobile homes built after 1976, when more stringent federal regulations went into effect, are as safe as conventional housing.