[Whome]

Looking at possible relocation to the Oklahoma city area and looking at online real estate sites and noticed that most of the homes do not have basements?? Isn't the Oklahoma City area like Mustang, Yukon, Moore, "vulnerable" to tornadoes???

[Synopsis]

I think the lack of basements are due to the type of soil, which is shifty and basements tend to crack over time. But, I don't understand that because there are many cellars in Oklahoma that don't crack. It could also be just a regional thing. They don't have basements here in Texas either.

[jeffncandace]

I have previously lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. I have NEVER understood why in the world 90% of the homes in these states have no basements when they are smack-dab in the middle of tornado alley! I live in Michigan now and practically EVERY home has a basement, and compared to OK and TX we have next to no tornados. It makes zero sense!

[Synopsis]

It doesn't make much sense to me either jeff. You would think there would be more basements in tornado alley per capita than any other place on earth, but there are less there than literally anywhere else. Is there someone in the know who can answer this question?

[Synopsis]

Below is an answer that I found on another thread in the citydata forum, and it makes sense because there are basements in Oklahoma, just very few and far between. Apparently it just boils down to cost.

"There's a rational explanation for the typical lack of basements in the South and there prevalence in the North. The further North you go, the deeper the building codes require you to excavate to place a home's footing below the frost line. If you're excavating 3-4' already, plus placing the house 2' out of the ground, it's foolish to not dig an extra foot or so and just create a basement. In the South, the codes may only require footings to be 1-2' deep, and therefore the addition of a basement would require much more excavation (and therefore cost) beyond what's required."

[Mattie Jo]

if i wanted a cellar in my home in oklahoma it would take a few sticks of dynamite to make one. it is mostly rock. i can't even get a shovel in the soil without coming up with a lot of rocks.

[Synopsis]

Well jessaka, if you did dig a hole for a basement, it would certainly be tornado proof!

[Whome]

Appreciate the response and info

[rugratref]

I've never understood that one either...especially after moving to South Carolina...basements are everywhere here!
My first thought was, "why didn't we have these back in Oklahoma!"

BTW, had a great uncle in Oklahoma that lost his home in a tornado. When he rebuilt, he had a basement! That man had just as much home underground as he had above ground.

[AZ_singlemother]

Originally Posted by Whome

Looking at possible relocation to the Oklahoma city area and looking at online real estate sites and noticed that most of the homes do not have basements?? Isn't the Oklahoma City area like Mustang, Yukon, Moore, "vulnerable" to tornadoes???

Maybe it's good for the storm shelter business