Tornadoes are capable of producing extremely powerful winds. Every year there are dozens of tornadoes that impact houses with winds in excess of 150 mph. In rare cases winds may exceed 300 mph. Few structures can withstand a 150 mph wind, let alone a 300 mph wind, which carries four times the force. In addition, strong tornadoes lift objects into the air and hurl them at high speeds, adding to the destructive potential.
The Tri-State tornado destroyed about 15,000 homes.
On its own, tornado is simply a noun. As with any noun, whether it is the subject or the object depends on how it is used in the sentence. In this sentence, "tornado" is the subject while "houses" is the object: "The tornado destroyed several houses." In this one, "tornadoes" is the object: "I saw a tornado."
Many houses and businesses, docks, and boats in the Natchez area were damaged or destroyed by the 1840 tornado.
The Waco tornado was an F5, meaning that houses were completely destroyed with some of the swept clean off their foundations.
Tornadoes can destroy as much houses as it can depending on the length of their path. Most tornadoes are too weak to destroy houses, causing mostly superficial damage. However, in the works cases a tornado can destroy thousands of houses.
The degree to which houses are damage or destroyed can be used to assess a tornado's intensity.
Potentially an EF5 tornado can destroy thousands of houses. However the measure of a tornado's intensity is not based on the quantity of damage but by the severity of damage. For an EF5 tornado the general indicator is well built houses that are completely removed from their foundations and blown downwind. Some F5/EF5 tornadoes have torn across rural areas, destroying only a few homes. But some of those that were destroyed were completely obliterated.
An F3 tornado will destroy most trees and leave most houses partially destroyed. An F5 tornado will completely destroy most structures, debark, trees, and send them airborne.
An F5 can destroy anything and everything in its path, wiping houses clean of their foundations. In some cases entire towns can be destroyed.
An F3 tornado is pretty destructive. In the areas hit hardest well built houses will have their roofs removed and multiple, possibly most walls collapsed. Weaker structures will be completely destroyed. In such a tornado cars are tossed an trains derailed.
Depends how large or small the Tornado is.
Note that the wind speeds provided are estimates and not to be taken at face value. F0: (gale tornado), 40-72 mph. Some roof tiles and siding stripped, tree limbs broken, signs damaged. Weak sheds and outbuildings may be destroyed. F1: (moderate tornado), 73-112 mph. Roofs of houses severely damaged. Poorly secured roofs may be removed. Trailer homes overturned. F2: (significant tornado), 113-157 mph. Roofs torn from well-built houses. Trailer homes completely destroyed. Large trees snapped. F3: (severe tornado), 158-206 mph. Roofs and walls torn from well-built houses, weaker houses may be completely leveled, most trees in a forest uprooted. F4: (devastating tornado), 207-261 mph. Well-built houses leveled and left as pile of debris. Poorly anchored houses blown off foundations. Trees debarked. F5: (incredible tornado), 261-318 mph. Well-built houses completely swept away, leaving bare foundations. Reinforced concrete structures destroyed.