Tornadoes!

[Western]

We had a tornado "outbreak" in North Texas last week, 16 confirmed. Worst damage was near Granbury TX. 6 fatalies in that one. Fast forward to Sunday-Monday, Oklahoma has got pummeled, I was watching the FOX network news and they where talking about the Shawnee OK. tornado on Sunday, then as they where reporting and flying over a big storm outside Oklahoma city, they caught a tornado developing and it ended up destroying much of Moore OK just minutes ago. The're reporting it as "1 mile wide"

I am watching them right now trying to get/find children that were in an elementary school, doesn't look good.

So, I think I will "re-start" considering a storm shelter. A local place is running a special on a 6'x8' with 6'2" tall, installed for $2999, pretty good deal if you ask me. I have had 2 at other places we have lived and they sure are a nice security blanket.

What do you have, or what plans do you have if your in a tornadoes path? I have been in one and had to hide from another, it "aint" no "joy ride"

 

[TripleR]

I am watching the same thing, our farm was hit by one when I was growing up and lost our barn and all of our out buildings including the outhouse. I think we have been moved into the designation of "Tornado Alley", but on the edge. When we built our house we put in a basement with some portions having steel I beams in the overhead flooring.

 

[Ted Summey]

While tornadoes aren't unheard of in out area of NC they do happen. We have a basement where we have spent some time riding out tornado warnings. I can't imagine livng in the areas in the Midwest where tornadoes are common.

I have a distant cousin that put in a storm shelter in at her Georgia home after tornadoes came close to her home a few months ago.

 

[Western]

Here is the one I'm looking at

U.S. Storm Shelters - Original Concrete Storm Shelter

I figure I could call it a "high dollar storage":laughing: No place better than a hole when the world around you is twisting!!

 

[Bird]

When I was a kid living out in the country out of Healdton, OK, we had 2 cellars and it seemed to me that every time a cloud came up, we had to go to the cellar. Then we moved into town in Marlow, OK, and I was kind of glad we didn't have a cellar (yeah, I know, I wasn't the brightest kid around). But the elderly couple next door did have a cellar, so he always came and knocked on the door if there was a cloud anywhere and we still had to go to the cellar.:laughing: But now I wish we had one, or at least some kind of tornado shelter.

 

[Western]

Bird, most Oklahoman's are well tuned in to tornado preparedness! After all, they hold the tornado meanness record!

My biggest wonder is, how if your in a EF1 or higher, how those cheap little vents stay in-tack?? Even if you survive the initial storm, you have to breath:laughing: One thing is to always let someone know where your shelter is so you can be cut out or whatever if needed.

 

[Pixguy]

They're estimating 24 students killed. God bless them and their families.

 

[Western]

WOW I had heard that all from one of the schools where accounted for, but there was what 2-3 schools?? Just saw it scroll across our TV that 50+ dead so far. just sad.

 

[sseelhoff]

Thoughts and prayers to all those who are suffering through this tragedy. May they find peace and comfort, if not today, soon.

To those TBN'rs in Oklahoma and other areas hit by this storm, We all pray for your safety. Hope you guys and gals are all safe and back with us soon.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

so sad. our prayers go out to those in OK.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Just think how many storm shelters could have been in place with the money that has been waisted on people who hate us regardless in the last several years.

 

[Piperflyer]

Can't beleive there are not tornado shelters built into schools, they knew the thing was coming in advance, but never got the kids evacuated from the school that was hit. Don't think block walls are going to protect you with the force this tornado was packing. Lives lost from ignorance

 

[txdon]

I would not call it ignorance. Sure they knew a tornado was coming but what direction will it turn? Will it take the bus drives 10 minutes to get the busses or 20. I have seen people evacuated that have turned into fatalities and they would have been safe if they stayed in place. I know of no schools with tornado shelters or even basements.

 

[farmgirl19]

texasjohn; I remember when Jarrell was leveled by a tornado. Have you lived in the area that long? These storms always remind us of others in history.

 

[texasjohn]

Yes, we've been here about 30 years. Wife saw tornado from our hilltop, about a mile in front of house coming our way. Thankfully, it went back into the clouds before it got to us. Jarrell has recovered to the extent possible from something like that. Scars still in various places if you know where to look. Death toll of 28. Small town where everybody knows everybody and went to school with them. Like Txdon said, some kids went home and were killed when only concrete foundation was left. School not hit.

texasjohn; I remember when Jarrell was leveled by a tornado. Have you lived in the area that long? These storms always remind us of others in history.

 

[riptides]

When you have a tornado that is a mile wide coming at you, you don't have too many places to go.

Thoughts and prayers for OK.

 

[Ed of all trades]

:bawling::bawling::bawling:We are praying for OK

 

[Piperflyer]

I would not call it ignorance. Sure they knew a tornado was coming but what direction will it turn? Will it take the bus drives 10 minutes to get the busses or 20. I have seen people evacuated that have turned into fatalities and they would have been safe if they stayed in place. I know of no schools with tornado shelters or even basements.

That is ignorance overlooking the facts that someday a tornado could hit your school with small children inside and no place to properly be safe. Why do you have shelters in your homes then

 

[aczlan]

Here is the one I'm looking at
U.S. Storm Shelters - Original Concrete Storm Shelter
I figure I could call it a "high dollar storage":laughing: No place better than a hole when the world around you is twisting!!

My worry would be that something would land on the door and block it, then that no one would make it out to check on us... Reminds me of the quote from Dune: "Any man who retreats into a cave which has only one opening deserves to die" (page 212 in my copy of Dune)

Aaron Z

 

[dave1949]

I could see a requirement for school buildings in violent weather zones to have a central hallway that is storm hardened. It's not going to be a total solution by any means, it may save some lives, and could act as a community storm shelter even when school is not in session. It would cost something, but if integrated into the building design, probably not all that much.

Home shelters seem like obvious good choices. The extra costs would be more acceptable to many if the shelter room had multiple purposes.

I think a large part of having few shelters in homes is we tend to live in a world of denial about many things. Plus, it's a lot more jazzy to think about a really great kitchen than a storm shelter, although the costs would be comparable. It's just human nature.