There is no question the concrete block houses are stronger. We live in an area that was hit hard by the tornado. The CB homes sustained much less damage than the vinyl sided homes. In fact, the vinyl just peeled off like wallpaper in the strong winds and the houses collapsed in on themselves. There were a few CB houses that had to be rebuilt, but the majority, I'd guess 90% of the re-builds were vinyl sided homes. The concrete block also has its own insulating value, which varies depending on which source you consult. We bought a CB house because of safety factors during a hurricane, and after living thru the tornado, it is a decision I do not regret.