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Old 09-07-2008, 04:26 PM
 
Location: Houston, TX
8,895 posts, read 19,997,888 times
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We are looking at homes in Georgetown but recently started to consider Jarrell because it is a little further away. Is there any reason not to look in Jarrell or any areas NOT to buy in Jarrell?
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Old 09-07-2008, 05:02 PM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
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The only reason I wouldn't look there is the greater chance for tornadoes. But otherwise, it seems just fine. THL can tell me if I'm wrong about the tornado part, since I very well could be
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Old 09-07-2008, 05:14 PM
 
Location: Texas
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no reason at all, except for the F5 tornado that flattened the whole town and killed 31 people in 1997, but that wouldnt stop me at all. it's a nice smal rural town and far enough away from a city.
The Jarrell, TX Tornado of 27 May 97

YouTube - Jarrell Mania
Jarrell, Texas Tornado Damage - May 27, 1997
Jarrell, Texas
Central Texas tornado outbreak - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

YouTube - Jarrell, TX Tornado from May 27, 1997
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Old 09-07-2008, 06:10 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
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It was 27 people, FWIW (originally thought to be 31, but we found ultimately that it was 27). And it didn't "flatten the whole town", just one neighborhood. In fact, when we came back to Jarrell that evening after fleeing the tornado (not that one, another one that turned east before reaching our place), we didn't realize that it had damaged that neighborhood until my husband went back up to town to see what was going on.


I live just outside of Jarrell, and work in Georgetown. Jarrell's a nice, friendly, small town that's suffering some growing pains. I enjoy living here, it's close enough to Georgetown to easily partake of that community's amenities, and also close enough to Austin to go into town for an evening.

That tornado was a little over 11 years ago. There've been many more out towards Hutto and down in Caldwell and Hays County since then - they just didn't happen to hit a populated area, and, grant you, they weren't F5's. Lots of people in town (including us) have storm shelters now, which wasn't the case then - they make great root cellars, by the way, during all the time that you don't need them for protection, and I've known of a couple of fellas who made them into man-caves, complete with small TV, carpet, the works! We don't really think about it all that much - it may be what defines Jarrell to the rest of the world, but it certainly isn't what defines us to ourselves!

As for areas to buy and not to buy in Jarrell - it's really a tiny community, sort of hard for it to HAVE "areas". You will find, in some parts, VERY nice homes right next to manufactured homes right next to historic homes. There are some new neighborhoods, some nicer than others, but you're talking a matter of a couple of blocks apart as far as "neighborhoods" go.

That being said, Georgetown is a lovely community, too, and it all depends on what you're looking for. So, what is that? It'll be easier to answer your question knowing that.
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Old 09-07-2008, 06:55 PM
 
Location: Houston, TX
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Looking to retire somewhere small but near a city such as Austin. What neighborhood or streets did the tornado destroy? I just wouldn't want to buy and build on top of where people lost their lives so tragically.
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Old 09-07-2008, 07:08 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
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I'd have to go look at the street names. It was the Double Creek Subdivision. Part of it was rebuilt; part of it is a park now, in honor of those lost ones.

Last edited by TexasHorseLady; 09-07-2008 at 07:23 PM.. Reason: To add name of subdivision.
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Old 09-07-2008, 07:26 PM
 
Location: Somewhere in Texas
5,406 posts, read 13,276,665 times
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According to city-data, the following gives the percentage of tornado risk in various parts of Texas based on the overall U.S. average. So actually, the Austin area is better than a lot of Texas.

Jarrell ~ The chance of tornadoes is 95% greater than the overall U.S. average.

Georgetown ~ 90% greater....

Austin ~ 80% greater..........

Houston ~ 150% greater......

Dallas ~ 223% greater.........

Ft. Worth ~ 221% greater....

Waco ~ 142% greater..........

San Antonio ~ 19% greater..
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Old 09-07-2008, 07:39 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,400,512 times
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We're at the very bottom of tornado alley, which explains a lot of those. Don't know why Houston is so much greater, though.

Would like to know where City-Data got those stats, though.
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Old 09-07-2008, 07:45 PM
 
Location: Texas
3,494 posts, read 14,380,632 times
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THL...i was wondering if Jarrell gets their electric from a coop? or do yall have to use those awful deregulated electric companies like most city folk do?
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Old 09-07-2008, 07:53 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,400,512 times
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We get our electricity from Bartlett Electric Cooperative, and our water from Jarrell-Schwertner Water.
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