Basements, storm shelters, tornado activity in Huntsville

[BobWallace]

The hillier areas of town such as Jones Valley have lots of basements. Most of the area's homes are built on flat former cotton fields that are not suited for basements.

[TC2coolmom]

I am setting here wondering where in the world do we go? I live on Gillespie Rd in Madison City, and I looked it up and there is nothing close to my area. There are a good bit of basements in homes here in the Area around Eastview Drive. I don't think I know what to do. Our younger boy is at Bob Jones and the rest of us are here with no where to go. What are people who live in Apt's and trailers to go? There is not a list for Madison City anywhere that I can find. I really love to know.

[LCTMadison]

Good Shepard UMC off Old Railroad Bed is set up as a shelter. I also read somewhere Madison Church of Christ on Hughes Rd. would be as well.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by TC2coolmom

I am setting here wondering where in the world do we go? I live on Gillespie Rd in Madison City, and I looked it up and there is nothing close to my area. There are a good bit of basements in homes here in the Area around Eastview Drive. I don't think I know what to do. Our younger boy is at Bob Jones and the rest of us are here with no where to go. What are people who live in Apt's and trailers to go? There is not a list for Madison City anywhere that I can find. I really love to know.

LIMESTONE COUNTY
Ardmore City Hall
25844 Main St.
Ardmore, TN 38449
Holds 150 people
Clements Community Safe Room
9158 U.S. Hwy. 72 W., Athens, AL 35611
Holds approximately 100 people
Community shelter/East Limestone area
Basement of Bethel Church of Christ
Intersection of Bledsoe Road and Capshaw Road
26772 Capshaw Road
Athens, AL 35613
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
1418 Old Railroad Bed Rd., Madison, AL 35757
Holds 100 people
Goodsprings Community Shelter
33634 AL Hwy. 99, Anderson, AL 35610
Holds 150 people
Lester Community Shelter
30306 Lester Rd., Lester, AL 35647
Holds 100 people
Owens Elementary School
21465 AL Hwy. 99, Athens, AL 35611
Holds 600 people
Will be open to the public after school hours only
Pleasant Grove Safe Room
9080 Upper Snake Road, Athens, AL 35614
Holds 150 people
West Limestone High School
10945 School House Rd., Lester, AL 35647
Holds 1,000 people
Will be open to the public after school hours only
MADISON COUNTY
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Serves as a shelter in the event of a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning
One Tranquility Base
Huntsville, AL 35805
The following shelters are run by municipalities, churches and community groups. They are open to the public:
New Hope
Main Drive, just across from Town Hall
2 shelters, located side by side
Will hold around 300 people total
No pets allowed, only service animals
New Hope United Methodist Church
5351 Main Drive, New Hope
Holds around 100 people
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church
1418 Old Railroad Bed Road
Madison, AL 35757-6613
(256) 232-3331
(Please call church first to see if it is open)
Harvest Youth Club
230 Lockhart Road
Harvest, AL 35749
*Shelter opens any time there is a tornado watch issued in Limestone County. Above-ground shelter, holds 125 people; 1 bag per person, no pets, only service animals
Phone number is (256) 217-0320 – but phone is not located in shelter, so if they’re inside, they won’t be able to answer.
Flint River Baptist Church
12945 Hwy 231/431 North, Hazel Green (next to Meridianville Middle School)
Church will open when a tornado watch is issued and remain open as long as needed
Enter through the “Student Entrance” door located at the back of the building
Pets are allowed in carriers
(256) 828-3692
Parker Chapel United Methodist Church
28670 Powell Road
Madison, AL 35756
Underground shelter – holds about 50 people
The Madison County EMA does not operate any public shelters. After the tornadoes of April 2011, the county made the decision to distribute FEMA grant money to individuals to install storm shelters in private homes. The county is not affiliated with the shelters listed above.

[LCTMadison]

They are opening James Clemens at 2:00 as a shelter

[Lamar Bowman]

Originally Posted by LCTMadison

They are opening James Clemens at 2:00 as a shelter

Send kids home for safety. Open high school as a shelter. Brilliant!

[LCTMadison]

Originally Posted by Lamar Bowman

Send kids home for safety. Open high school as a shelter. Brilliant!

Since the threat is going to go into the afternoon beyond school hours, it actually makes perfect sense. That way, kids are not stuck at school and parents are not out on the road trying to get them.

JCHS was built to the new standards established after the school in Enterprise was hit by a tornado, so it also makes sense for the city to offer that as a shelter for those who may need it. Their shelter can fit 2500 people.

But continue on....

Edit: Looks like Robby Parker will also be opening Bob Jones if things get bad.

[Lamar Bowman]

Originally Posted by LCTMadison

Since the threat is going to go into the afternoon beyond school hours, it actually makes perfect sense. That way, kids are not stuck at school and parents are not out on the road trying to get them.

JCHS was built to the new standards established after the school in Enterprise was hit by a tornado, so it also makes sense for the city to offer that as a shelter for those who may need it. Their shelter can fit 2500 people.

But continue on....

Edit: Looks like Robby Parker will also be opening Bob Jones if things get bad.

Regardless...the panic has begun. My drive through Madison today was amazing.

[Southlander]

To the OP: Tornadoes often tend to hit the same areas - not always, but often. Somewhere there's a map showing historic tracks of tornadoes for the past 20 or 35 years. Stay away from those areas.
Huntsville and Madison have grown so fast that builders weren't really aware of where they historically hit. After all, last time it was a cotton field or a chicken house or some trees, no harm done.

A shelter could be where people can go AFTER the front passes if their house is heavily damaged or the weather continues through the night and they don't want to stay in their dwelling.
You need a tornado shelter. Here's a list: List Of Tennessee Valley Tornado Shelters | WHNT.com

Basements in the Tennessee Valley - often the water table is too high, or the ground is too hard, or people would just as soon have a separate garage since they have plenty of land. Around here, the land is mostly flat - that's another reason.

OP: The best defense is to be aware of the weather, know where to go, and have things ready: bottled water, flashlight, batteries, blankets. Wear study shoes and have a jacket with you. Hold the blanket and jacket over your head and body to protect you from flying debris, the shoes to walk on it after, and the jacket to wear since it's usually quite cool behind the front.

I've been here since 1961 and I have yet to see my first tornado.

[BoomerSooner1]

Great information. Thanks!