Tornadoes and Dallas (Austin, Lancaster: mattress, houses, neighborhood)

[gogogo35]

Am I being irrational to let a fear of tornadoes keep me from moving to Dallas, or keeping me from being excited about moving to Dallas?

I grew up where there aren't any tornadoes, and I am not used to tornado watches, tornado warnings (though I've been living in Virginia and Austin for the past 4 years, and it was a totally new and not fun experience for me).

The floods, hail are fine -- I feel like I can avoid them enough or (in the case of hail) just have property damage.

[dollaztx]

Originally Posted by gogogo35

Am I being irrational to let a fear of tornadoes keep me from moving to Dallas, or keeping me from being excited about moving to Dallas?

I grew up where there aren't any tornadoes, and I am not used to tornado watches, tornado warnings (though I've been living in Virginia and Austin for the past 4 years, and it was a totally new and not fun experience for me).

The floods, hail are fine -- I feel like I can avoid them enough or (in the case of hail) just have property damage.

From my experience it hasn't been a big deal. I've been affected by damaging hail storms twice in the past 5 years. Never once have I seen or been hit by a tornado since moving here in 1991. I don't know if that's the norm or luck. Keep in mind that DFW is in the Tornado Alley but it's in the outer southern fringes. The further east and south you live in DFW the least likely you will be affected. Even then tornadoes are seasonal and not a threat year round. Floods are also nothing to worry about all the time. This years rain is not the norm. Be more worried about droughts than floods.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by gogogo35

Am I being irrational to let a fear of tornadoes keep me from moving to Dallas, or keeping me from being excited about moving to Dallas?

I grew up where there aren't any tornadoes, and I am not used to tornado watches, tornado warnings (though I've been living in Virginia and Austin for the past 4 years, and it was a totally new and not fun experience for me).

The floods, hail are fine -- I feel like I can avoid them enough or (in the case of hail) just have property damage.

Yes, you're being irrational. Almost 40 years in Dallas and I have NEVER seen a tornado. Tornados are far less damaging than hurricanes, major earthquakes, or hailstorms. They usually aren't on the ground for long and don't do widespread damage. In one of the more recent DFW area tornados that went through a fairly populated suburb, the extent of the damage was about 20 houses on 2 blocks. One side of the block was perfectly in tact and across the street, houses were gone or severely damaged.

[gogogo35]

OK, thanks. Still, though, of the houses that were gone or severely damaged, did people survive by following what you are told to do -- interior room, be in bathtub with mattress over it?

I think it makes me anxious because I feel like it is so totally out of my control, my kids will be at school, my husband works in a high rise, etc.

[ChristieP]

Unless there is a HUGE tornado, the interior room strategy works well. Still, the odds of being hit are miniscule.

[mSooner]

If it really bothers you that much, you could put a garage in-ground shelter in your home. Still, the risk is pretty low

[bencronin04]

There are something like 8 million + people in the DFW area. I think we've lost maybe 10 or less individuals in the area due to tornados in the last 20+ years. It's more rational to be scared of driving than being killed by a tornado in DFW.

[Acntx]

Severe thunderstorms are common in DFW and mostly produce torrential rains and gusty winds. Occasionally they are accompanied by hail, straight-line winds, and flash flooding. Tornadoes, particularly strong and violent ones, are rare. An EF-2 tornado extensively damaged parts of my neighborhood along with other areas in Lancaster on April 3, 2012. We had adequate warning, so there were only a few minor injuries, and no deaths that day despite having several tornadoes pass through highly-populated areas. The "seek shelter in an interior room" advice is great advice. In the most heavily damaged areas, I remember seeing homes where nothing was left standing except for the interior rooms. Outside of basements/underground shelters (not common in Texas) and above-ground "safe rooms," its next best option.

While I have witnessed the destruction a tornado can cause, I would still tell you not to let fear deter you from moving here as the likelihood of encountering a tornado is very low.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Yes, you're being irrational. Almost 40 years in Dallas and I have NEVER seen a tornado. Tornados are far less damaging than hurricanes, major earthquakes, or hailstorms. They usually aren't on the ground for long and don't do widespread damage. In one of the more recent DFW area tornados that went through a fairly populated suburb, the extent of the damage was about 20 houses on 2 blocks. One side of the block was perfectly in tact and across the street, houses were gone or severely damaged.

You must have moved in just after the one that crossed North Dallas in May 1976. That one was hard to miss as it was on the ground for a long time and ran from near the Tollway before lifting off near Central Expressway and finally dissapating near Jupiter Road and 635.. I don't recall any fatalities, but lots of damage.

I wouldn't be afraid of being back in Dallas despite being really scared by that one. I was in a park n ride lot near Forest Lane waiting for someone and we watched it come across N. Dallas. We were thinking about leaving, but the traffic was stopped everywhere and we didn't think we could get anywhere. We last saw it at Central Expressway about a mile down the road. Then it got really dark and loud with hail and rain. At that point the freeway magically emptied, but it was too late to go anywhere. We later figured out from radio reports it lifted off the ground there and pretty much jumped right over us as the next report was it was seen at Jupiter and 635.

[kt2le]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Yes, you're being irrational. Almost 40 years in Dallas and I have NEVER seen a tornado. Tornados are far less damaging than hurricanes, major earthquakes, or hailstorms. They usually aren't on the ground for long and don't do widespread damage. In one of the more recent DFW area tornados that went through a fairly populated suburb, the extent of the damage was about 20 houses on 2 blocks. One side of the block was perfectly in tact and across the street, houses were gone or severely damaged.

Exactly.