If you don't have basements..what do you do in a tornado? (Austin: living, garage)

[CptnRn]

Yep, our tornado plan is to take shelter in the central bathroom or closet of our house where we have solid walls and ceiling around us. Even if the roof were ripped off, getting in the tub and pulling a matteress or pillows over you will provide some additional protection.

I have lived in Austin 32 years, moved her in 77, and recall reports of 3 or 4 tornados. I have only seen one.

One was reported to have touched down several blocks East and West of the apartment we were at in 1978 +/- out on East Manor Road, jumping over our apartments while we were home but unaware of it. We drove a few blocks away and saw the damaged houses.

There was another one over NW Austin one afternoon that I could see from my office on the 10th Floor of One Texas Center.

I vaguely recall there was at least one other we read about in NW Austin.

Here is a historic one:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/a...ICA00406lg.jpg

The May 4, 1922 tornado was the only major tornado in Austin's history. Although the Capitol was not damaged, 13 Austinites were killed, 44 injured, and property damages were estimated at over half a million dollars.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nado_Alley.gif


There are only 3 listed on this UT chart of "memorable" tornados in Texas, one in 1922 and two in 1973.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas..._tornadoes.jpg

Here is an interesting list of about 25 tornados that have occured in Travis County 1953-1990, Scroll down to find Travis County.
Texas Tornadoes--Page 9

A search on this NOAA web page produces a list of another 17 since 1990
NCDC Storm Events-Select State

1 TRAVIS 05/18/1990 1725 Tornado F0 0 0 0K 0
2 Lago Vista 09/20/1996 07:58 PM Tornado F1 0 0 5K 0K
3 Four Pts 05/27/1997 03:11 PM Tornado F2 0 0 50K 10K
4 Four Pts 05/27/1997 03:15 PM Tornado F1 0 0 5K 0K
5 Lakeway 05/27/1997 03:50 PM Tornado F4 1 5 15.0M 0K
6 Lake Travis 08/29/1998 05:45 PM Tornado F1 0 0 30K 0
7 Bergstrom Afb 03/16/2000 04:20 PM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0
8 Pflugerville 03/16/2000 05:10 PM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0
9 Austin 11/15/2001 03:50 PM Tornado F1 0 0 100K 0
10 Austin 11/15/2001 04:45 PM Tornado F0 0 0 30K 0
11 Bergstrom Afb 11/15/2001 05:30 PM Tornado F1 0 0 80K 0
12 Bergstrom Afb 11/15/2001 05:44 PM Tornado F0 0 0 15K 0
13 Pflugerville 11/15/2001 06:02 PM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0
14 Manor 12/23/2002 07:04 AM Tornado F1 0 1 200K 0
15 Austin-bergstrom Arpt 06/08/2004 07:45 PM Tornado F0 0 0 150K 0
16 Beecaves 11/16/2004 04:52 PM Tornado F0 0 0 0 0
17 Manor 03/25/2005 09:50 PM Tornado F1 0 0 100K 0
TOTALS: 1 6 15.765M 10K

Makes me surprised that I only remember 3 or 4. !!!

According to this webpage we average between 1-2 per year per 2,500 square miles in this area.

http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/tornado.htm

[Dr.Mom]

A few years ago we were living just south of Fort Worth when a tornado hit a rural town more northwest of Ft. Worth (sorry, the name escapes me). For over an hour I hid in a small interior powder room with a one year old, four year old and a 100 lb. Labrador. It was the LONGEST hour of my life. Needless to say, when looking for a new home in Austin, somewhere safe to hide in the event of a tornado is a priority, even though I realize we may never need it (fingers crossed). While most homes in Texas do not have "basements," some do have a lower level that is built into the sloping terrain. Those houses go to the top of my list. If you look carefully, I'm sure you'll be able to find a few in your area of town. I'm sure a good realtor could tackle this with no problem. Good luck!

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by Deelightful

Hello,

I'm curious...here in the north, we have basements to go to in the event of a tornado. I've heard that most homes and apartments in Texas do not have basements. What do you do when you have to take shelter?

Thank you in advance.

Dawn

Who needs shelter...
I get my lawn chair out and press the 'on' button to my camcorder and hope it will be the big news on fox7
I do this once a week

Seriously, I have not heard or seen any tornadoes. Some happen out in Jarell and once in Cedar Park.

[mm57553]

I am from the Northeast and was a little freaked out about this at first too. But I have been in Texas for 18 years now (the first two in Houston, the rest in San Marcos and Austin), and I have never seen a tornado. So I don't think it's a huge concern. But like the pp's said, a central room with no windows on the first floor is the safest place.

The first time I saw a tornado warning (in Houston), I was living in a 2nd floor apartment and was convinced I was going to die. My only exposure to tornados was the Wizard of Oz. Needless to say, the wind didn't even pick up, and my neighbor thought it was hysterical.

[robino2001]

Seems appropriate to bump, no? Just like I said... not likely for Austin proper... but not totally impossible by any means.

[neddy]

Sittin in the closet tonight,beer popped open..wifi and the weather radio.Fun times. Good hail storm though!

[Indigoblue]

Are you getting bad hail in Leander? I wonder if I should make the effort to clear the garage out (it's close to fitting a car) and get my minivan in??

Hmm so what is best between the bathtub in the powder room in the middle of the house or the closet under the stairs in the middle of the house??

[Indigoblue]

Nevermind, it just went pitch black here in NW Austin, with rain and huge sounding hail. Hopefully the minivan doesn't look like a golf ball in the morning

[mimimomx3]

wooo hoooo big old texas storm

[HappyTexan]

Sitting here watching weather underground..seeing the yellow squares turn to purple triangles (means tornado vortex conditions) and back to yellow.

Rain just started here northeast of Pflugerville..so far just lots of lightening, thunder and rain.