Information on tornadoes, shelters, alerts, other concerns (Birmingham, Hytop: house, neighborhood)

[bavadicane]

Dear all

I was in HSV 30 days ago for 2 weeks.
In these two weeks I listened twice (each for week) the siren of tornado warning.
I was not worried because I didn't realize very well what was happening around me!!!

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?

LEt me know beause on July I'm coming with my family (wife and two kids) and I'm a little bit scared.

By Ezio

[Bravo35223]

If you are this concerned, have one put in your home....those of us who have lived here for our entire lives rely on technology.

Keeper: I think we need a sticky about tornados. We have "advised" this topic to death. I understand the concern people have about them, but we seem to recycle this same subject repeatedly....thus the need for a sticky...

thanks

b

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

those of us who have lived here for our entire lives rely on technology.

What does this mean? The original poster wanted to know where to go. To "rely on technology" implies doing something other than going into a home shelter. I'm guessing if you don't have a home shelter you have a place of shelter, a public shelter, to go to on the threat of a tornado.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by Charles

What does this mean? The original poster wanted to know where to go. To "rely on technology" implies doing something other than going into a home shelter. I'm guessing if you don't have a home shelter you have a place of shelter, a public shelter, to go to on the threat of a tornado.

Charles:

The Alabamians on this site take a lot of pride in helping people who are considering moving to the area.

Many of these "Alabamaians" are from California or elsewhere. They have asked these same tornado questions (which are legitimate) dozens of times.

My most recent answer was today:

kabotts:

Welcome to Alabama....

Newcomers from West Coast ask this question frequently. Suggest you research the site for extensive discussions we natives have had on the subject....

Condensed answer:

1) Yes tornados are a factor - ignore everything else people have said about local topography having an effect on tornados. It doesn't. They can hit anywhere. One hit downtown Atlanta last March. They are a factor wherever you choose to live in Alabama.
2) The vast majority of us have never seen one, much less been affected by one.
3) Buy this weather radio and keep it by your bed.

R1650 NOAA All Hazards and Weather Alert Radio with SAME and AM/FM from Reecom

4) When bad weather approaches watch TV - they will tell you all about it.

5) Tornados move in an east/northeasterly direction. Therefore when you watch TV and are able to locate the tornado relative to your house:

A) If it is east of you, it is not a threat.
B) If it is north of you, it is not a threat.
C) If it is far south of you, it is not a threat.
D) If it is west/southwest of you and within 20 miles - seek shelter.

That's about it. When one comes into your area, you will be inundated with electronic data about it. TV, radio, sirens....technology is the answer to being comfortable about this issue.

So what does our 'technology' approach mean from a practical standpoint?

1) Educate yourself on tornados and understand their pathways.
2) Watch TV when they are in the area. Tornado forecasting technology is better than a 3 day forecast. They can show you down to the street level where it is coming - if one is down.
3) Understand that TV stations are serving a broadcast area of several hundred square miles.
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.

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....

[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?

[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.

[NicoleC]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

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.

Mine (the Midland WR-300) lets you turn off any alarms you want. It also has SAME so it's more specific to your neighborhood -- you don't get alarms for the whole valley. It was the only one I could find that did all that. I got mine from Amazon.

I didn't bother to disable the iceberg alert.

[harry chickpea]

Thanks, NicoleC, looks like I'll have to get one of those.

[Keeper]

OK..I made this a sticky although I am not sure you wanted this to be a sticky or if you want an info thread only. It can be an opened or closed thread..

Let me know..

[Bravo35223]

Like it....I think once we all agree on what content should be on here - you should close it and make it static.

Now...the best online radar you can get...

Current Hytop Nexrad Radar Map : Weather Underground

The superior feature is your ability to "drag and drop" your mouse and focus in on your neighborhood....then click "animate" and get a super view of what is going to hit your area in the next few minutes....

I would make this a sticky in all four Alabama forums....