If you don't have basements..what do you do in a tornado? (Houston: backyard, crawlspace)

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

The idea that tornadoes do not occur in hill country is a myth. quote from Wiki: Finally, there are areas which people believe to be protected from tornadoes, whether by a major river, a hill or mountain, or even protected by supernatural forces. Tornadoes have been known to cross major rivers, climb mountains,[85] and affect valleys. As a general rule, no area is "safe" from tornadoes, though some areas are more susceptible than others.[22][82][83] (See Tornado climatology). end quote

[ROnelson]

As a person that was born and raised in Austin I can only think of one deadly tornado that came threw the hill county.

Driving I35 is 1000000 times more deadly than the possibilities of a tornado..

[ROnelson]

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by ROnelson

As a person that was born and raised in Austin I can only think of one deadly tornado that came threw the hill county.

Driving I35 is 1000000 times more deadly than the possibilities of a tornado..

Is Jarrel considered Hill Country? Is Lakeway? Both were hit in 1997 on the same day by different tornadoes that ended in fatalities. True there was only one fatality in the Lakeway Tornado but one still makes it deadly.

[ROnelson]

That would be the one I was referring to. I flew the path of the torando with a friend and it was amazing the way a tornado can strip the earth..

BTW that tornado was a F5 freak.

[arrow_keys]

Why do so many houses in Texas not have basements? I am a native Texan but I don't know the answer to this question. Soils? The idea that cheaper is better regardless of the long term consequences?

[TexasHorseLady]

The fact that we've gotten along fine without them for quite a while now?

[morningstar77]

We're moving to West Texas soon, and I just assumed we'd find a place with a basement...uh-oh...
But from what I see, it won't be as bad a tornado risk as living in SW Mo (not bagging on MO, I love that state), but I spent my first six years there, and I'm terrified at the thought of being in a tornado.
On the other hand, awhile back, we had some really bad thunderstorms here. I jokingly told someone if I was in MO I'd be running for cover. Ha-ha...then came the 'what is that sound' moment and I looked outside up in the sky. There was this little, narrow white streak moving away.
Well, I just stood there in denial...just goes to show you they can happen anywhere I guess.

[bumpy_1954]

My home is dug out of the side of a steep hill - my garage is a basement! Actually, flooding kills more people here than tornadoes - mostly people who think a truck or SUV can traverse a rushing flooded road - or is night and can't see the danger. Hard to believe in this drought, but we had flooding two years ago and about 2 dozen people died. They found a foot near Mansfield dam a year later...ugh!

[bumpy_1954]

I think flooding is major reason for no basements - especially in south texas - houston area.