[homeschoolingmommy]

Hello,
My family plans to move to the Northern Alabama area soon. We're not sure where still doing lots of searches. I have found so many beautiful locations priced right. After checking the stats at city data, I've found they mostly all mention tornado and/or earthquake activity..? I've never experienced either one. I have 4 children and currently reside in South Jersey. We get nothing other than a thunderstorm every so often.
Are they common? And if so, how do you protect yourself? I would be scared to death to go through something like that while my husband was at work.
Are there usually deaths associated with them,,, or is it just a matter of hang out in the basement till it's over and wait out out the storm?
If you've grown up experiencing those I would imagine you feel more safe and know exactly what to do. Some dummy from the north-such as myself..lol would end up being the one who gets killed, right?
Please help!

[writerwife]

I transplanted from Connecticut 34 years ago. When we first moved here we stupidly found ourselves glued to the picture window during the first tornado watch hoping to see one (visions of the Wizard of Oz danced thru our heads). Fortunately, one didn't come by. There are certain places throughout the state where they are more prevalent because of land design but they can happen anywhere. There are weather alerts that work pretty well but can't be definitely counted on. Most people own weather radios and some have tornado shelters in their yard. And yep, hiding out in the basement (if you have one) would be the key thing to do if one is around.
Heed the warnings when they're out and just don't do stupid things like...stay glued to the picture window waiting to see one.
Once you're here, there are lots of sources of information to learn what to do during a tornado watch (conditions are right to form a tornado) or a tornado warning (one has been spotted).

P.S. No, it's not usually the one from the north that ends up getting killed. That would be the one that's used to the watches and warnings being out there and getting complacent about it.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by homeschoolingmommy

Hello,
My family plans to move to the Northern Alabama area soon. We're not sure where still doing lots of searches. I have found so many beautiful locations priced right. After checking the stats at city data, I've found they mostly all mention tornado and/or earthquake activity..? I've never experienced either one. I have 4 children and currently reside in South Jersey. We get nothing other than a thunderstorm every so often.
Are they common? And if so, how do you protect yourself? I would be scared to death to go through something like that while my husband was at work.
Are there usually deaths associated with them,,, or is it just a matter of hang out in the basement till it's over and wait out out the storm?
If you've grown up experiencing those I would imagine you feel more safe and know exactly what to do. Some dummy from the north-such as myself..lol would end up being the one who gets killed, right?
Please help!

We moved to Huntsville in Northern Alabama in 2008; we're originally from Southern California so tornado risk was new to us.

I usually read weather forecasts days in advance and the NOAA's National Weather Service usually provides some text about potential risks of tornadoes a couple days in advance. That's my first heads up. As the risk gets closer in time I am aware that tornado watch may occur. If the risk is very high a tornado warning is issued and the tornado sirens are activated for the entire county in which the tornado risk exists. So, there could be a tornado risk 40 miles away but the siren 100 yards from your house will be activated. At the same time the tornado warning is activated, TV and radio stations will issue audible tornado warning information. At this point I tune in to a local weather station online (or 1940s technology, TV) to watch the weather man pretty much pinpoint the location of the tornado risk and the direction it is going. If it isn't near you or isn't moving towards you, then you pretty much don't have much to worry about.

Now, if it is near you or moving near you, either you'll be near a safe place or you won't. If you are, go there. If you aren't, find one and go there.

Earthquake risk is relatively low for Northern Alabama and the insurance is cheap so I bought earthquake insurance for about $125/year.

I think the risk of flooding is greater than both earthquake and tornado so I bought flood insurance for around $400/year.

[Threestep2]

This is OT but are you moving to AL or VA? We had tornadoes, hurricanes and floods in both states.

[Keeper]

I moved back to N. AL from FL in 05. The threat is MOL 2 months in the spring and 2 months in the fall. It is unnerving the first year when the sirens are going off and the TV weather man is saying it is headed towards your town. I have my safe room (bathroom) and that is where I will go.

The TV stations will begin broadcasting whenever their is a threat of a tornado. They have got it down with the radar here, they can tell you almost exactly what street it is going to hit.

There are years when we have no tornadoes too. You can have a shelter put in since most houses here do not have basements.

[Southlander]

Go to the Huntsville-Madison-Decatur forum. There is a stickied thread at the top about tornados.

[homeschoolingmommy]

Originally Posted by Threestep

This is OT but are you moving to AL or VA? We had tornadoes, hurricanes and floods in both states.

Not sure, looking at both states seriously

[homeschoolingmommy]

Originally Posted by Keeper

I moved back to N. AL from FL in 05. The threat is MOL 2 months in the spring and 2 months in the fall. It is unnerving the first year when the sirens are going off and the TV weather man is saying it is headed towards your town. I have my safe room (bathroom) and that is where I will go.

The TV stations will begin broadcasting whenever their is a threat of a tornado. They have got it down with the radar here, they can tell you almost exactly what street it is going to hit.

There are years when we have no tornadoes too. You can have a shelter put in since most houses here do not have basements.

Why would most houses in the area not have basements? I never realized flooding would be something to think about too

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by Keeper

since most houses here do not have basements.

WE sure have basements in west Georgia.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by mccarley

WE sure have basements in west Georgia.

I guess it is what you consider a basement.. above ground or partially underground.
There are some houses with basements but 'most' of the houses do not have underground basements in NE AL. I am no expert by any means as to why but some have said it is because of the limestone and the terrain. My neighbor has a tri level house and her garage is made into a room so I guess you could call it a basement but it is above ground on all sides.