Community Chat

[Tissyanne]

On 4/29/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:

I know every area of the U.S. has it's own weather vulnerabilities ... hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes ..... (I live in Southern CA, earthquake country).

In the news coverage yesterday, showing the devastation in the tornadoes' paths, one thing kept coming to mind ....... WHAT are people doing when a twister starts coming their way?

I thought ALL houses had a storm cellar on the property, but one man interviewed just hid in a closet. A closet? Seriously?

Yes seriously. If you think all have basements or storm shelters you are incorrect.

[Photo Donna]

When we moved back to GA -- I told the RE agent I wanted a house with a basement because of the spring weather.

[scotttie]

The people with the biggest problems are those with mobile homes. My stepmom lives in Florida in a MH and there is a shelter they go into.

ETA: They tell you to go out and lay in a ditch rather than stay in your mobile home...I can't imagine ever doing that.

[ennui1]

A basement depends on your soil -- if it's too loose and sandy, no basement.

Believe it or not, some people live in apartments, without basements. Shocking, I know!

Tornadoes can occur anywhere -- there were a couple that touched down in Silicon Valley some years ago. No one in California has a basement because of earthquakes.

[Jannabelle]

A basement is OK, better than nothing, but it is not guarantee of safety.

[gazelle77]

I could and would not live in a place where these storms are a yearly occurrence. I would move, live anywhere but THERE.

[RoughDraft]

Tornado touch downs from 1980-2010

While tornado alley is most prone to this weather pattern, you can see from this map that almost no area in the U.S. is a guaranteed safe zone.

[scotttie]

Wow, very interesting map Rough Draft.

Looks like if one stayed out of tornado country that leaves out about half the country! I am truly surprised at the concentration.

[Jannabelle]

Hmmm, wonder what is worse, tornadoes or earth quakes??..............and that I agree that map is very interesting.

[tansy]

No matter the map, Rough Draft, we do not get any serious tornado in WA where gazelle and I live for which I am very thankful.