A federal agency’s final report about its technical investigation into the 2011 Joplin tornado calls for nationally accepted standards for building design and construction, and public shelters and emergency communications to reduce deaths caused by tornadoes.

The final report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology was released Friday and doesn’t alter any of the investigation’s major findings or its 16 recommendations released in November. The study recommends the development and implementation of uniform national guidelines that enable communities to create the safest and most effective public sheltering strategies.

NIST lead investigator Marc Levitan says that the final report is strengthened by clarifications and supplements suggested in response to the draft report.

The May 2011 Joplin tornado killed 161 people and destroyed thousands of buildings.

—

Associated Press information from: The Joplin Globe