[SinCity]

The numbers of sewer drainage problems since the heavy rains recently discussed in many threads of the OK forum leads me to believe the water table probably has a huge impact on the decision to build basements. Sealing a basement can keep the water out but there's no cure for the problems caused by the wet soil that srrounds that dry basement!! Like life, a solid foundation for ALL living areas of the home (and the soul) prevents a multitude of other problems.

[ogre]

Yeah, I think you've heard right, Jessaka, that crawling under your house would not be the best place to take shelter, at least if you're talking about a crawl space instead of a basement. I'm guessing it's kind of like taking shelter under a highway overpass, where the wind channels through a narrow space and actually picks up speed, making the space under an overpass an especially dangerous place. They talk about this on the Weather Channel from time to time, since that well-known video of the news crew pulling off the highway and running up under the overpass may give people the erroneous idea that this is a good place to take cover. Notice that the tornado in that video did not actually hit the overpass, but just passed close by.

It seems likely that the same sort of channeling effect would happen in a crawl space. Even if your crawl space has walls, those are often less sturdy than the walls of the house itself, and are likely to be blown out, so you'd be right in the open. From everything I've heard, the best bet in a house--as long as you live in a HOUSE, not something flimsy like a trailer--is to stay inside, get as low as possible, put as much house as possible between yourself and the wind outside, and be in a small, enclosed space. This means that if you don't have a basement you're talking first floor, in the center of the house, inside a closet, or a bathroom is even better, if you have a downstairs bathroom in the center of the house AWAY FROM WINDOWS, since the plumbing can help hold the walls together.

Be careful about hurrying to the shelter on campus. It's probably a good place to be, IF YOU'RE SURE YOU CAN GET THERE IN TIME, but be careful. Some tornadoes move pretty quickly, and one thing you don't want is to make it halfway to the shelter and get caught outside in the open.

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[peggydavis]

Good post, ogre. One important thing about preparing for tornadoes is to have a plan to take shelter in your home.

I would never crawl under a house no matter what. Spiders!!!!!!

As far as the bathroom, don't forget to take a mattress with you. I had a friend who was in a big tornado in Wichita Falls TX. He showed us pictures of his totally demolished house, just a few boards holding up here and there. He survived by hauling a king size mattress (he was a big guy) and covering up in the bathtub with the mattress. He didn't have a scratch. The pipes actually helped hold the bathroom lumber in place. The short length of the lumber probably helps too.

Another important thing is to always, always, keep an eye on the weather. The TV stations switch all programming to weather coverage anytime storms threaten, especially the metro area. Don't wait for the sirens to be your warning signal. Listen to Gary England. If the tornado is big and really life threatening (extremely rare) you will have time to seek better shelter. For most storms, just staying inside away from windows is enough.

[peggydavis]

5. A tornado siren is not cause for alarm, but is usually just your signal to go out in the yard and look for the funnel. (Fun for the whole family.)

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

5. A tornado siren is not cause for alarm, but is usually just your signal to go out in the yard and look for the funnel. (Fun for the whole family.)

OMG, I'm still laughing at this. And we thought we were the only area where people do that.

[SinCity]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

5. A tornado siren is not cause for alarm, but is usually just your signal to go out in the yard and look for the funnel. (Fun for the whole family.)

That's what we do here in the desert when it rains for the first time in forever. You'll see groups of people standing outside homes and businesses looking to the sky!

[Mattie Jo]

LOL. I think if I heard a siren I would hide. Well, maybe I would go look for a funnel to see if I do need to hide.

[peggydavis]

It's a good time to get to know your neighbors better. That is the one time all the people in the neighborhood are outside at once. And don't forget to take the video camera.

[mgrody]

A basement is a great plus if the soil and water table permits. Not only does it give protection from severe weather, it's good for storage, permits easy access to HVAC equipment and plumbing, and much of it can be finished to provide extra living space at minimal expense. I would never buy a house without a basement unless they were nonexistant in that locale.

[debbie at bouontiful]

Originally Posted by jeffncandace

I have previously lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. I have NEVER understood why in the world 90% of the homes in these states have no basements when they are smack-dab in the middle of tornado alley! I live in Michigan now and practically EVERY home has a basement, and compared to OK and TX we have next to no tornados. It makes zero sense!

AGRE, AGREE AND AGREE. I have lived in several states and this is the first home without a basement right in the middle of the alley...You got me, whenever they say take cover I say ya right where???????? My home is a newer home built 11 years. When we were looking at homes, we could not find a home without a basement for sale. Being here I see some homes built with so I think it is a matter of being CHEAP!!!!!!!!