Survey-Do you think there is a safe place to be in your home when a tornado hits?
Jun 30, 2009
in
Tornado Pictures Video
I mean just look at the photos on the news of the aftermath. Usually the whole house is leveled.
Care to share any survivor stories or tips?
We don’t have basements in Tx.
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8 comments
sglmom on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
As someone who owns HER own home in a Hurricane Zone (and that home has survived multiple Major Hurricanes (Level 3 or greater — including Ivan/Dennis within a few months of each other) …
I can say this …
IN my own home — I have not only a Generator for power, but I have reinforcements in the house as well — Extra Hurricane Clips, Hurricane Panels, Storm Rated Windows, Hurricane Rated Roofing Materials, Reinforced Doors (including Garage Doors), etc etc etc.
When I get a storm warning — I look at the track (and given we get a 5 day, 3 day warnings) — by 3 days before the Hurricane Strike — I’ve already pulled everything loose in behind the reinforcements, I’ve put up my Storm Panels, I’ve tightened all the windstorm protective devices, I’ve fueled up the Generator (Which I do anyway at the start of the Hurricane Season), and … my Food Pantry is full with the necessary supplies.
As someone who did have Roof Damage (Which is why I now have a Metal (higher windstorm rated) Architectural Roofing System), I didn’t lose the entire roof (whew — thank goodness for spending up front what I needed to do — that saved my home), and … the safest place is in the lowest levels – I have a large closet in the middle of the house that is the most secure place to be.
Believe me — when that windstorm starts to hit — you KNOW The scary sounds. You can hear the things (that people did not tie down or put away) banging, banging, banging against your storm panels. You can hear every creak, every strain, you know the sound when the Power Grid breaks down (and there is no power from the Electric Company). You know when the Generator kicks in.
Then … eerily … the eye of the storm hits — everything is silent, you crack open the door and see the destruction (including the damage to Nature — the trees snapped like toothpicks, the branches everywhere, street lamp parts (from several blocks away), all of that in your yard – and you see the coming of the rest of the storm nearby. So you re-lock the doors, put up the reinforcing bars, and wait for the rest to pass by.
(and yes, the storm did take several hours of brutal force before finally passing through the area (almost a day at times)).
You SURVIVE by planning ahead. One of the important things that impressed my sibling (who lives in Tornado Zones) is the Hurricane Bracing/Clips — which he added to the construction of his house in that area .. along with storm panels too. He is also thinking of adding a generator as well to his property (For safety sake — because even Ice Storms can cause the power grid to fail).
STOCK up with Staple foods — and rotate it through (so you never have expired foodstuffs). STOCK up with your Water Needs (bottled Water), as well as providing a First Aid kit, Fire Extinguishers, and whatever else your local Emergency Authority recommends.
THAT, and being aware of the Weather in your area is what SAVES lives. I DO watch the Weather Channel quite a lot … and have Emergency Weather Advisories as an added service. I will Evacuate IF the storms are strong enough (I live about 35 miles inland), but (thankfully so far), I’ve not had to.
ツSmiley Girlツ on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
in the storage area of your pantry or some sort
█▓▒☻☻▒▓█ on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
we’ve never had any tornadoes but we did have the remnants of a hurricane once and my neighbor’s roof blew off. they had to come to our house and we all stayed in the basement. but if there was a tornado we’d be screwed.
sawyer on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I would go in the basement or in the crawl space.
Jan G on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I’m in Arkansas as you know we deal with this every year. We are suppose to go to the center bathroom. We don’t have one in the center part of our house so we go into the master bathroom. We have put pillows over our heads in the bathtub. Lucky for us it hit 30 miles from us we didn’t have to test this out. Most of the time even when the house is leveled the bathroom fixtures usually remain. Why so many people survive. We have been having storms tonight and read where Thursday night will be worse for us. So I imagine we will be going through this again soon.
older on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
if you have a basement that is the safest place– if not then get into a central small room with no windows.
Homam . on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I do not think that there is a safe place here in Iraq also ………… …King death visiting each houses Iraq
BILL on June 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm
The bathtub and if there is a basement then there and in a corner as far from a window as you can get