Information on tornadoes, shelters, alerts, other concerns (Birmingham, Huntsville: hospitals, houses)

[Keeper]

What I can do is take the informative posts.. and make it into a closed sticky.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

D) If it is west/southwest of you and within 20 miles - seek shelter.

4) Once you are able to watch a TV broadcast and understand where your home is relative to the storm track, you will understand very quickly if you are at risk.

The original poster wants to know what he should do in D) or 4) above if he doesn't have a home shelter.

Originally Posted by bavadicane

I am asking:"where are tornado shelter for the people that live in residences or in house that don't have one?"

Are there public tornado sheleter?
DOes the church have it got one?

Originally Posted by Southlander

Yes, there are shelters, but frankly I don't know where. I guess you could contact the county commission office and ask which agency is in charge. It use to be Civil Defense...not sure what it's called now. 911?

The original poster's question remains unanswered.

[Keeper]

Were the sirens you heard actual warnings or were they test. They test the sirens where I live every Weds.

The best suggestion is to get a weather radio and check the local TV stations. You can rest assured if there is even a slightest hint of a tornado they will be on the air showing radar and telling you where it is located or heading.

It is a little unsettling the first few times, but now they can pinpoint which way it is going and even the hwys it is near.

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I agree there needs to be a sticky on the subject.

Also, the link to the weather site that lists all the past tornadoes by county is important to have there, since it lets people judge for themselves how frequent they are, and what areas seem to get a lot of them.

Personally, I think the weather radios need to have more options for the users. We're in an area where Noah would be knocking on our window before we flooded, and I can look out a window and see if a thunderstorm is severe. The constant warning about these two lesser events, and their tripping the weather radio alarms, make me seriously consider unplugging the dam thing and depending on the local siren.

You program weather alert by county or counties that you are living in.County will be a closer proximity to your home.

[j760]

Originally Posted by Charles

The original poster's question remains unanswered.

Agreed. I don't understand why people spend so much time complaining about repetitive questions. If someone is tired of answering the same old things here's an idea, just ignore the thread and let someone who does want to answer participate.

[Keeper]

I agree I would rather be able to program it for just tornadoes and a more specific area. Mine is programed for my area but that includes also areas that wouldn't affect me since they are further west.

[bbfan]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

Most of us also have weather radar sites saved in our favorites on our PC's. I have a TV station in Birmingham that will call my home phone in the middle of the night - IF A TORNADO IS APPROACHING MY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD.....It will NOT call if the tornado is 50 miles away but within their broadcase coverage area.

The technology is that good now....EDUCATION and TECHNOLOGY are the keys.....if someone needs a shelter - fine...go buy one....

I have been told that WAAY 31 will soon offer the same service. They will call up to 5 numbers if a tornado is approaching a specified address. Should be up in the next couple of weeks I believe.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by j760

Agreed. I don't understand why people spend so much time complaining about repetitive questions. If someone is tired of answering the same old things here's an idea, just ignore the thread and let someone who does want to answer participate.

I did a quick search of the threads (as is protocol before posting) and I didn't find anything on City Data that would answer the question on where to go if you don't have a shelter (other than finding a safe place in a basement or central location in the home). What about when you are at work or your wife is at the gym, your kids are at soccer practice or you are at a restaurant or a library? Where do you go? I did a quick google on

"Public shelter" Huntsville tornado OR storm

and not much came up.

PS, I am not worried about tornadoes, the probability of death or injury is in the noise when compared with the risks of driving to work, but I would like to know the answer just out of curiosity.

This thread keeps answering the "How do I find out if a tornado is coming my way?" question, not "Where do I go if one is coming my way?"

[bavadicane]

Thank you to all the peolple that have answered to my "usual for newcomers" question!

From the answer I understood two things:

1) you can trust (I don't know how much!) in the technology (and I trust in it because I', an engeneer!)

2) if you have a private shelter you are very lucky!! (speaking with an real estate agent she said to me that Huntsville is not very well prepared against tornadoes, from the point of view of tornado shelters constructions. SHe said to me that the most part of homes in HSV are without tornado shelters and I am asking why if you have so much tornado warnings. You have space abd the price of a tornado sheletrs I suppose is not too much expansive!)

But the most important thing is : "right now I didn't understand where I have to go if I don't have a private tornado sheleters!

Some one said me that the church has tem got.
IS it true?

Are there public tornado sheletrs like stadium or so on.

I want to excuse with the people that listened tto much these questsions but for the person that are not accustomed to this problem "it is a concenrn"!

Thank you

Ezio

[NicoleC]

There are a few public shelters, but you don't often really have time to get in the car and drive somewhere to get to a shelter -- in fact, they really would rather you stay home.

Tornado FAQ:
FEMA: Are You Ready?