[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by rabid

Most of us Okies have "storm cellars". Look for that when shopping for a home in the old oklahoma.

All of the homes where I grew up had a cellar. It was often damp and dank, with a lot of little critters living in there, but when 100+ per mile an hour winds come howling through, you don't really care.

[colleeng47]

We put in a storm shelter that holds 8 people (can't imagine that many fitting into this storm shelter, though), for just under $3000. I think that's a much better solution to putting in a basement with the problems that would bring.

[Goodpasture]

Not only that, but in the basement you still need a safe room. If you have a full house basement, and are down there when an F3 or more hits, that house is going to LAND on you. This is why bathrooms are the best "safe room" in most houses. The walls are close so stuff doesn't have as much an opportunity to land on you, the plumbing is buried in concrete so it tends to stay in place, and the "shell" provided by the bath tub is both small, rigid, and attached to the plumbing. Put a big cushion, like a mattress or futon or something over you, and you are pretty well protected, above grade so you don't drown if you get hit in the head, and debris can be cleared pretty easily. Imagine being trapped in a basement when one of those mcMansions has been reduced to rubble, with the majority of two storys landing right on top of you.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

Not only that, but in the basement you still need a safe room. If you have a full house basement, and are down there when an F3 or more hits, that house is going to LAND on you. This is why bathrooms are the best "safe room" in most houses. The walls are close so stuff doesn't have as much an opportunity to land on you, the plumbing is buried in concrete so it tends to stay in place, and the "shell" provided by the bath tub is both small, rigid, and attached to the plumbing. Put a big cushion, like a mattress or futon or something over you, and you are pretty well protected, above grade so you don't drown if you get hit in the head, and debris can be cleared pretty easily. Imagine being trapped in a basement when one of those mcMansions has been reduced to rubble, with the majority of two storys landing right on top of you.

Ouch!

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

Not only that, but in the basement you still need a safe room. If you have a full house basement, and are down there when an F3 or more hits, that house is going to LAND on you. This is why bathrooms are the best "safe room" in most houses. The walls are close so stuff doesn't have as much an opportunity to land on you, the plumbing is buried in concrete so it tends to stay in place, and the "shell" provided by the bath tub is both small, rigid, and attached to the plumbing. Put a big cushion, like a mattress or futon or something over you, and you are pretty well protected, above grade so you don't drown if you get hit in the head, and debris can be cleared pretty easily. Imagine being trapped in a basement when one of those mcMansions has been reduced to rubble, with the majority of two storys landing right on top of you.

Just wondering who in the family do we put in the tub? Also want to know how to get the mattress into the bathroom? I will say this, I would prefer to have a bathroom at least near by, because for some that kind of weather can really scare the c... out of you.

[StillwaterTownie]

If it's a single sized mattress, it shouldn't be much trouble to move to the bathroom. But then a bigger one might be. The littlest ones, like the children should go in the tub first.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

If it's a single sized mattress, it shouldn't be much trouble to move to the bathroom. But then a bigger one might be. The littlest ones, like the children should go in the tub first.

Last one in closes the shower door!

[Goodpasture]

Take a spare change of underwear, where ever you hide out........you will want to change before the rescuers get there...........

[BornToFly]

[Brian Hancock]

The reason there are not very many basements in the Oklahoma area comes down to the fact that the frost footing of your home only has to be 18" deep in the OKC metro area, whereas in the north the frost line is much deeper. For example in Kansas City the frostline is 48"... if you are already digging 4' deep you might as well go ahead and put a basement in. Also, in OKC basements have a certain stigma. Most individuals knew someone who lived in an older area of town that had a basement built in the 40's and 50's that was dark, musty, wet... well just like most things in the past 50-60 years technology has improved the basement. They are dry, comfortable, and pretty much be finished just like any floor of your house.

I read the above responses to this thread and laugh. Obviously you are much safer in a tornado below grade then in your bathtub with a mattress over you. As with most tornados it is not THAT the wind is blowing but WHAT the wind is blowing, that is why you are instructed to get below grade, to protect yourself from flying debris. Refer to the NOAA tornado safety guidelines if you have questions about tornado safety [URL]http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Safety[/URL]

And, If you have any questions about basements and basement construction please call an expert and do not rely on just any random person with a computer to answer your concerns about the safety of you and your family nor the construction of a basement foundation. Visit [URL="http://www.basementcontractorsOK.com"]www.basementcontractorsOK.com[/URL] for more information.