Tornado Warning for Houston (April 15, 2009) (Austin, Galveston: mobile home, live, safest)

[()_T]

There's news that there's a Tornado near Downtown houston heading east.

EASTERN HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

* UNTIL 1230 PM CDT

* AT 1150 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO THIS TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON... MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE TORNADO WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SAN
JACINTO STATE PARK...MINUTE MAID PARK...LAKE HOUSTON DAM...
SHELDON...JACINTO CITY...HIGHLANDS...GALENA PARK...CROSBY...
CLOVERLEAF...CHANNELVIEW...BARRETT AND ALDINE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN THE INTERIOR HALLWAY OR
A ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A STURDY BUILDING. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE INSIDE A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...EVACUATE THEM
IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST
RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR
HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF...LOCAL POLICE...
OR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

Im in Galveston now, but anyone in Houston seeing a Tornado?

[bostoner]

I'm just outside downtown and this is the first time I'm hearing about it.

[tstone]

The storm came & went pretty fast in the SE.

Usually those east side warnings = water spout warnings.

[KKIDS]

I'm looking to move to Houston from Phoenix and tornadoes and hurricanes is my concern. Please give me info! Places least and most effected and places to avoid-

[jfre81]

Well, it used to be that when a "tornado warning" was issued there was a tornado sighted. Now it just means there's a strong chance for tornadoes to form - or not. Kind of like what we had as the storms mostly fizzled out while coming across the area.

Texas is known for being part of Tornado Alley but that mostly starts in the northern half of the state. They do happen here, but they are uncommon (particularly over land rather than the water where they're harmless) and it's usually a small funnel that may or may not touch the ground; if it does it might ride along at a short distance and may damage a few buildings, cars etc. in its path before going back up or dissipating. If a hurricane or tropical storm hits they can also produce tornadoes, but they are scattered and similarly short-lived as well. For all that nature throws at us, at least we don't get the mile-wide twisters that sometimes eat whole towns in the Midwest and in North/Central Texas (like Jarrell north of Austin in 1997).

There is at least a marginal possibility of a tornado occurring just about wherever you go, and it's no different here.

[fitzy24]

If you hear the sound of a freight train but you don't live near train tracks....RUN!

[LostInHouston]

Originally Posted by KKIDS

I'm looking to move to Houston from Phoenix and tornadoes and hurricanes is my concern. Please give me info! Places least and most effected and places to avoid-

My understanding is that hurricanes happen most often near the water... so avoid places near the water...

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

My understanding is that hurricanes happen most often near the water... so avoid places near the water...

LOL

[tstone]

Yeah, "near the water" means 100 miles or less away from the water, you'll feel the full effects of the wind. So in other words, any place around the metro will feel it.

In the Houston/Galveston area, if you're on the immediate waterfront you will most likely be wiped out by the storm surge. Usually if you live 10 miles or less from the water, you'll be under a mandatory evacuation. You can stay if you want, but if you get stuck there will be no emergency services to help you.

Now if you're futher east near the Golden Triangle, the surge could wash up 20 miles from the gulf.

[jfre81]

Hurricanes don't cease to exist at the coast, and Ike caused quite a bit of wind damage as far inland as Indiana.