Tornadoes in Ruston, West Monroe??? (Greensburg: houses, college, tornado)

[Michchix]

We will probably be moving to this area and I am DEATHLY scared of them. Do you guys get them there and how often? Why don't homes there have basements to take shelter in?!

[stillkit]

I don't live there but, yes, tornadoes are a possibility anywhere in Louisiana, including Ruston and Monroe/W. Monroe. Flooding is a greater danger.

Houses don't typically have basements in Louisiana (or anywhere in the south) because of cultural reasons and because they'd tend to fill up with water. In most of Louisiana, the watertable is just under the surface, though that's less so in Ruston, which is on top of a slight bump of solid rock. It's about the only part of Lousiana which isn't mush.

[CountryGrl_n_SBC]

I grew up in West Monroe, and I think I remember 2 tornados in my 18 years of living there. Then I moved to Ruston for 4 yrs for college and I don't remember any there during that time. There may have been more but I don't recall any. So of course there is a possibility but they are rare.

Basements aren't really necessary or feasible as the poster before me mentioned. Especially when you head further south, can't even bury people underground in some places in south LA.

Ok, I'm a nerd, and I just researched this. Since 1950, there have been 5 tornados in West Monroe - 3 F1's, 1 F0, and 1 F2. Last one was in 1996 (F1), before that there was an F0 in '95, an F1 in '74, an F1 in '65, and an F2 in '54. There have been 3 in Ruston - 2 F1's and 1 F2. Last one was in 1999 (F1), before that '77 (F1) and '65 (F2). There were no fatalities in any of these. So as I said, possible but pretty rare in both places.

[MetroBTR]

Anywhere in Louisiana tornadic activity is a possibility, but during my lifetime (a pretty long time) I don't recall hearing about a tornado wiping a place around here off the face of the earth like some of those that you hear about in the Mid-West (Greensburg, etc.) However, that isn't to say they cannot cause substantial damage or cause a few fatalities. You wanna make sure you have a well-built house and a disaster plan.

[Twintastic]

I have lived in this area all of my life (35 years) and have never personally seen one. I know we have had warnings and maybe a few touchdowns but I have never experienced the devastation of one nor do I know of anyone personally that has either. I would not make that the only reason for not moving to this area because it could happen anywhere in the state.