Is the Huntsville metro bracing for the big one? (Birmingham: homeowners insurance, house)

[java85]

With a recent outbreak of tornadoes that affected the Valley on May 8 and May 11, Huntsville has been coming close to getting struck by tornadoes over the last several outbreaks. On May 8, a storm went through Decatur and produced a severe thunderstorm in southeast Limestone County. Later, the storm showed signs of rotation on the radar and produced a possible tornado east of the Huntsville International Airport. On May 11 a little past midnight, there were reports of a funnel cloud on I-65 in Priceville and the storm was suppose to strike the southern tier of Madison County and Owens Crossroads and New Hope in southeast Madison County.

The last major tornado that struck Huntsville was on November 15, 1989. That tornado made a destructive path on Airport Road and ended in Jones Valley. It damaged and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses. Twenty-one people were killed and 463 were injured in that storm. Another big tornado damaged and destroyed homes in the Anderson Hills neighborhood in northern Madison County on May 18, 1995.

By far, we have been spared a number of times from destructive tornadoes that affected Birmingham and Nashville in recent years. I think we are pretty much sandwiched in between the two systems that give us a greater likelihood of seeing large tornadoes in this part of the region. And it seems every time a storm goes through a county south of the Tennessee River and produces little of severe weather it takes a track into Madison County (especially on the western side) and produces tornadoes. Luckily, we've been spared from another large outbreak here in the area but do you think Huntsville is on the verge of embracing for the big one soon? We could be having more severe storms on Wednesday and Thursday and after the last two outbreaks it sorta makes me nervous that something more significant is going to happen.

[Charles]

This should get an Academy Award for tornado videos:


YouTube - INCREDIBLE TORNADO VIDEO!! May 4, 2007 - Ellis Co., OK

And of course someone made a tornado music video:


YouTube - Tornado

[penelopelp]

The important thing to remember is that the "big one" could happen at any time. Sometimes, people tire of hearing tornado watches and tornado warning with nothing happening. They get complacent. They might think that it won't happen where they live, because it hasn't happened there before. The most important thing is that people listen to the weather forecast, keep an eye to the sky, and have a plan in case there is a tornado.

[walkingtall4sure]

It helps to be a Christian when tornados approach.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by penelopelp

The important thing to remember is that the "big one" could happen at any time. Sometimes, people tire of hearing tornado watches and tornado warning with nothing happening. They get complacent. They might think that it won't happen where they live, because it hasn't happened there before. The most important thing is that people listen to the weather forecast, keep an eye to the sky, and have a plan in case there is a tornado.

I had never heard of tornado shelters before I started looking into moving to the Huntsville area. (I still haven't done my homework on this but I will shortly.) Are tornado shelters for those who are overly cautious? Are they only a luxury? Or, would only a risk taker not have one? Would only the cheapest guy not have one? How common are these things?

I grew up in earthquake country and I vividly remember the 1971 and 1994 quakes in Southern California. Both of them scared the bleep out of me. However, I lived in single story, wood frame ranch style house which is virtually indestructible in an earthquake (but not from a subsequent fire). Plus we had earthquake insurance. I browsed the threads and noticed tornadoes are covered by general homeowners insurance. That's good. But what you personal safety at home? I guess that's what a tornado shelter is for. (Kind of reminds me of an ongoing joke amongst some colleagues of mine who work on a big missile program. Every time something "Dilbert-like" happens at work, someone exclaims "Now I really need to go home and finish my backyard bunker.")

Storm Shelters



(image not protected by copyright)

[Keeper]

Oddly enough, even in OKC not that many ppl have tornado shelters.

The neighborhood where I live I know of only 2 and only 1 of those is new. There was a tornado that hit on the SE side of town but that was the only one in many years

IIRC there was a discussion about this previously and several ppl posted about getting a reinforced steel closet put in or putting a shelter in under the house.. (Nicole..) I think talked about this one..

[zenjenn]

Storm shelters are not common at all here in Huntsville. I guess they could be considered a luxury. I think more people should have them. Once we have the money, (i.e. once we sell our house in California) we're getting one.

[Keeper]

Zenjenn..

Didn't you post something about a reinforced closet? I personally think that is better than having to walk outside in the rain in the early morning hours to get to a shelter.

[flstatenolefan]

We are either getting a storm shelter or a home with a basement when we buy next year. After having a tornado rip through my backyard when I was a child in FL, I'm not a fan of twisters. Not to mention, several friends lost children in the Enterprise High School tornado a couple years ago. We drove through that area this past weekend for the first time since the storm and saw how many homes had to be rebuilt or re-roofed....it was a reminder of how strong those storms can be. While I know you can't be safe 100% of the time, I would prefer to have the option of a safe room when the warning comes. I guess I'm a big chicken, though...DH can sleep through the warning sirens with no problem; I can't.

[FlourChild]

I recall reading and hearing that the vast majority of tornado-related fatalities occur at night, because there's no visual warning of the tornado's approach, and most people are asleep and unaware of weather conditions until it's right on top of them. Thank God for the people who install and maintain weather sirens. But even those can fail. If at all possible, I'd recommend getting the best storm shelter you can, ASAP. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Any of the realtors on here, please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't having a storm shelter near or under the house ADD to a house's value?

I DO NOT mean to hijack the thread, but something people in the Tennessee Valley (and surrounding areas) really should prepare for, as much as individuals can, is the inevitable threat of a quake on the New Madrid fault line (around NW Tennessee). Buildings and people in California are many times more prepared for quakes than we are around here, but if a serious New Madrid quake happened, it would likely be many times more powerful and widespread than the tremors in CA. From what little I've been able to find out, virtually none of our infrastructure or disaster awareness takes the New Madrid factor into account.