Weather in E. Tenn.- Should I be scared? (Clinton: tornadoes, house)

[blucky]

We started our search in Greeville, SC about an hour and half (I think -as we had been traveling a long time) and on our way home drove to Asheville to visit a friend. We fell in love with Johnson City and now have shifted our focus to that area. Any info would help especially schools as I am a mother of 3 girls (help...lol). Thanks in advance!

[Gina323]

Kingsport area was listed at the 3rd best place in nation to buy a 2nd home (first was Alaska and then Maine), because of the affordability. Greeneville is about 25 miles west of Johnson City, and about 30 miles southwest of Kingsport. Lots of land for horses in all the areas that you mentioned.

[pioneer8]

I'm not from Tennessee, but go there a lot for business purposes. We were in Lebannon acouple of mounths ago when the bad tornado stuff was going through. (lucky me) I lined the bathtub in the motel (we were on the ground floor), so I could put the little one's in while they slept. Call me crazy, but the news was showing that our county was pretty much surrounded. Yikes! Anyway, I really thought that the inclement weather was mostly toward the center and western part of the state. I don't recall east TN being a huge tornado spot. I have this great book (Cities Ranked and Rated) Copyright 2004? Anyway it scores the average tornado risk for the country as a 19... Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol area gets a 3, which is very, very low! Jackson, TN gets a 16 which isn't even national average. Knoxville gets a 9. Memphis rates a 38... pretty scary. (Kansas City, Kansas got a 49) Anyway, those are stats, based on zero personal experience. I hope that helps calm your fears about eastern TN!

[momof2boys]

Wow, what a cool book!! I was also in Tn. when the tornados struck. I was in Lebanon when Memphis got hit bad, and then the next week while you were in Lebanon, I was, luckily, in Knoxville looking around. Talk about scary, I have never been so scared, ever!! That's why I wrote the post, I now have a tornado phobia! Thanks for the statistics, that really helps. We are still moving, it's between E. Tenn, and a town in S.Carolina (which, I fear, also gets tornados!). I just have to overcome it, I'm not going to let weather control my life. I'm glad you made it through, what an experience, I don't know how those people in the midwest do it!

[NealPT]

Originally Posted by momof2boys

Wow, what a cool book!! I was also in Tn. when the tornados struck. I was in Lebanon when Memphis got hit bad, and then the next week while you were in Lebanon, I was, luckily, in Knoxville looking around. Talk about scary, I have never been so scared, ever!! That's why I wrote the post, I now have a tornado phobia! Thanks for the statistics, that really helps. We are still moving, it's between E. Tenn, and a town in S.Carolina (which, I fear, also gets tornados!). I just have to overcome it, I'm not going to let weather control my life. I'm glad you made it through, what an experience, I don't know how those people in the midwest do it!

Statistically, the chance of getting hit by a tornado is very, very small because they are normally (not always) narrow and don't have a big destructive path. I've lived in Indiana for 35 years and have never been hit and Indiana is worse for tornadoes than TN is. A tornado came close (0.3 mile) to my home about 3 years ago but we didn't even have really strong winds.

[pioneer8]

Momof2boys, If you tell me the S.C. city you are considering, I'd be happy to tell to the tornado score from my book. It is an excellent book... I know you can get it at Books A Million... Probably Barnes and Noble as well. No, I don't think fear should control your decisions, however there are some things not worth tolerating. I moved from FL to Texas (Abilene) (North Central) 7+months ago, because of my husband's job. We love our home and land... but I did have a storm shelter put in right away. When they say, "possibility for severe weather"- I lose lots of sleep. It's frustrating because I know that there is a possibility for a big Tornado here. I have kids, so waiting til the last moment to go down inside is not practical, and getting in too early can be hot and a tight squeeze. If my husband works late, I may have to take them out there at midnight. -Not Fun. Then there's my sentimental items. I do worry a bit about my pictures, home movies, etc... Another thing is my husband's work has no shelter. I REALLY get concerned for him. Luckily, he is being offered another promotional move. I have to say, if it wasn't for that occassional, yet very real threat, we may have chosen to stay. I guess what I am trying to say is, sure you can handle it, but do you really want to? Good Luck

[momof2boys]

Yes, I'd love a score- the town is Fort Mill, SC (just south of Charlotte,NC, over the border). I have 2 friends who moved to Texas, one in San Antonio region, the other in Houston. I've always thought they were crazy for moving due to tornados. But then again, it doesn't really bother them. And they love it. Everyone's different, I guess. I have a brother in law that lives in Florida- Apopka, (near Orlando), and I really would love to live around there,- hurricanes actually don't bother me, at least you get a warning! But every time I find a nice town with good school test scores, we can't afford it! What to do, what to do!

[pioneer8]

O.K. Let's see here... They have over "400 Metropolitan" areas, but no Fort Mill, SC. Now, they do have Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill NC-SC... Tornado risk score there is a 14. Not too shabby. They mention that -"late summer and fall hurricanes can produce substantial rainfall, but seldom damaging winds". I lived in Clearwater, FL for most of my life, and hurricanes (even though we were never hit head on) were a breeze.- No pun intended I know we were always lucky so I only have pleasant memories of them. I hope you find a great place to settle. Good Luck.

[NewAdventure]

Hi Matt,
We are from Belleair Beach and thinking the same thing! We are traveling up to the Johnson City/ Elizabethton area in mid July. Good luck to you and your family.

[David Case]

I have lived in E TN (Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Sevierville) for 58 years and have yet to see my first tornado.

They are rare here.

Fear not.