Looking at the aftermath of the recent tornado in Aylmer (Québec) CANADA, it seems to me that most of the damages to the houses are on or near the roof. I would like to point out that dome houses can cope with tornados and other natural disasters much better than conventional houses can. Although very few in Canada, dome houses are gaining popularity in the U.S.A. where "Dome Magazine" is published and hundreds of domes have been constructed.
After the devastation by Hurricane Andrew in Florida and Louisiana, U.S.A., the structural advantage of domes was highlighted by the fact that a 13-metre dome owned by Ms. Renore Core in Louisiana, U.S.A. was not affected by the hurricane while other conventional houses in the neighbourhood suffered severe damages to the roofs, among others. Unlike houses and commercial buildings in the surrounding area, no damage was sustained by a 13-metre dome in Key Largo, Florida, just 32 km south of the eye of the storm. Another 15-metre dome in the direct path of the storm suffered no structural damage.
One of the dome manufactures in the U.S.A. (American Ingenuity, Melbourne, Florida) even guarantees replacement if a dome is damaged by a tornado, a hurricane or an earthquake. The dome shell is made of concrete and insulated by polystyrene foam, making it fireproof. The energy saving of the dome structure has also been demonstrated due to its efficiency in the use of space and material. This is especially appropriate for Canada, the highest per-capita energy consumer in the world. One of the American Ingenuity domes is now in Iqaluit on Baffin Island, the Northwest Territories.
Given the frequency of tornados and earthquakes in Canada, I believe that the government agencies, such as Emergency Preparedness Canada and Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, should promote dome housing as safe, energy-efficient and low-maintenance alternative to traditional houses. I also challenge the local builders to offer a "community of dome housing". As for me, I have long decided that my next house will definitely be a dome.
