Have you been inside your house when a tornado passed?
Did your house shake or things fall in your basement? If you don't mind sharing your story I would like to hear. I have been through some tornadoes in my area, but nothing extreme like what happens in KS. In my worse experience, which was a few years back, there was a loud roaring wind. I could hear stuff hit the house. We had trees & lines down. A man on our road lost his carport & gas station lost their overhang where gas is pumped. I did not hear a sound like a train or jet, which is why I ask.
I am also trying to make my mom's basement safer. Also wondering how safe this or any basement really is? I heard it could fall in on you. Mom's house is old & built well, hand built actually, but the basement leaks & the block is not in good shape.
I am also trying to find a site that sells prefab cellars because I stay in a mobile home part of the time?
I know it is alot of questions but would appreciate any answers anyone could give me. Thank you
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I was in my parents car when an F1 tornado hit 13 years ago and that was the only tornado I've experienced. The lowest floor of a building under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a table or bench is the safest place to be. You could probably get new floor boards on the ground floor but that's the only way you can make it safer.
Actually anything that is underground is save from a tornado. This is because tornado's are nothing more than high winds that are in a vortex feature. Depending on the size of a tornado is what determines the amount of area the wind field will be. As far as your mothers basement it will be safe from any tornado. Yes things can fall in the basement, because the frame or floor of he house are all tied together and usually made of wood material. So when the upper part of the house is being affected anything that is attached in the basement will have a tendency to move or shake causing somethings to fall off the wall.
Houses usually don't fall into the basement, but ti can and does happen from time to time. This is because of a few factors such as maybe water damage to the flooring and joist, termite damage, dry rot, anything that might weaken the structure itself.
Just have another small room built in your in mothers basement close to southwest, west wall for most tornados more from sw to ne that way any debris would be blown away from you. Just don't have the room tied to any of the exsisting structure except the floor. That way when the other structure is shaking the room should be save and not moving with exception of the ground maybe vibrating.
I am by no means an expert on this, but I am up with what all that happens with tornados and thier destruction. Have seen many areas damaged or destroyed by tornados. I guess you could just say I'm a little crazy when it comes to the weather, for I do chase tornados in my area as a hobby.
Yes,many times Sometimes it sounds like a train and other times its just wind but straight line winds do considerable damage without a tornado,have experienced both.Safest place to be is underground in basement or cellar,if not get to an inside room furtest from outside walls and under something.I know I am stupid but there really isn't a safe place inside,if you are in the path you get hit,thats just the way it is.
I've been through an earthquake. I was upstairs using the computer, and suddenly the house started to shake rapidly side to side. I was terrified, and I ran down the stairs and outside. It lasted only about ten seconds, but it was the strongest earthquake to happen in my city for about eighteen years. It only knocked a couple of trash cans down and wiped some stuff off desks.