Storm Shelters and Survival - Missouri (MO) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Versatile · 12-12-2007, 09:15 AM

Well we are both right and wrong. Yes you are correct in what you say. The National Weather Service does not control the sirens for Kansas City. The city of Kansas City does that. The storm i spoke of was still in Ks. Possiblt they sounded there sirens; i don't know. Kansas City never sounded theirs at all. I live within 1000 ft of the siren so i know it never went off. Awhile back before this incident they turned the sirens on and in actuality the storm was in the far northeast portion of Jackson County and all of Kansas City proper was in very little danger if at all. A lot of stink was raised over this so called false alarm. Why sound th alarm for people to the southwest part of the city when the bad weather was about 20 miles away to the northeast? That was the stink being raised. I was suprised to find out that when the National Weather Service issues a warning that they(Kc Emergency management) are supposed to turn the sirens on. In actuality it does not work out that way in SKC. Lived here better than 50 yrs and been thru many storms including the Ruskin Tornado of 1957.

Tim-n-SEMO · 01-09-2008, 11:10 PM

Hi

I think we've gotten away from the point a bit........

I've lived in MO all my life (38 yrs), South Central/South East mostly....and have NEVER had a storm shelter designated as such, nor any family or friends that I know of. Most places did have a basement or outside root cellar in case of a TRULY bad storm, but I can remember something like that happening only a few times in the past 30-odd years. Most of the time, there's no need to run & hide, just keep an eye on the TV or the radio on for bulletins.

Hope that helps

Tim

aragx6 · 01-10-2008, 09:51 AM

You should be in a basement whenever there is a tornado warning issued for your county. That shouldn't be a few times in 30 years - more like once or twice a year probably. A tornado probably won't hit you, but it might be damn close, and that's a risk you shouldn't take.

Ozark-Baby · 01-10-2008, 11:39 AM

Oh, for crying out loud...If one hears the storm sirens then one better think about finding shelter. PERIOD!!!!!

Versatile · 01-10-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aragx6

This is wrong. If they have a doppler indicated tornado they will issue a tornado warning. If a tornado warning is issued the sirens in the affected county, as well as the one directly adjacent to it, will go off.

I guess we might just need to agree to disagree. About four year ago we had the sirens go off. The actual area of danger was in the NE portion of the city; which pretty much rules out most of Jackson county. This meant the storm had already passed over most of the county. A lot of hell was raised over that.
Two yrs ago we were told take cover for a storm fast approaching with funnel sighted over Stanley Ks only 4 miles away. The sirens never ever sounded. Your opinion please.

aragx6 · 01-10-2008, 12:50 PM

Then your sirens are not correctly synced with the national weather service. I am not sure who you would talk to about that. I'd start with your alderman. They should go off.

Wanderer0101 · 01-11-2008, 09:20 AM

My parents are both in their 80s, have lived in Missouri their whole lives, and have never gone to a storm shelter or owned one. And they do live in Southwest Missouri so it's not like they don't get storms in the area.

Versatile · 01-11-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanderer0101

My parents are both in their 80s, have lived in Missouri their whole lives, and have never gone to a storm shelter or owned one. And they do live in Southwest Missouri so it's not like they don't get storms in the area.

Each can choose what he wants to do.

I am confident that anyone that has been thru a tornado; likes the idea of a shelter to go to. I have been there and done that! No disrespect to your grandparents but just because you are 80 yrs old it doesn't automatically mean that you are making the wisest choice.

Playing Russian Roulette with a tornado is just that!

gypsy_night · 01-13-2008, 04:30 PM

I've been face to face with tornadoes; when I lived in Missouri I witnessed a huge storm that turned extremely quickly into a tornado... at the time we were living in a little duplex with no basement. Nowhere to hide, we stood on the porch & watched this monster of a storm destroy everything in it's path. After it ripped the roof off the gas station at the corner(about 5 houses down across the street) it seemed to just dissolve. Tornadoes are unpredictable & dangerous, but I got the feeling a lot of people in Missouri just take 'em with a grain of salt. I've also heard that Texas gets some of the worst tornadoes...there goes my plans for moving out there.

Wanderer0101 · 01-17-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Versatile

Each can choose what he wants to do.

I am confident that anyone that has been thru a tornado; likes the idea of a shelter to go to. I have been there and done that! No disrespect to your grandparents but just because you are 80 yrs old it doesn't automatically mean that you are making the wisest choice.

Playing Russian Roulette with a tornado is just that!

I can only say that their choice has been successful for 80 years. People get way too exercised about this tornado thing. I've live in Missouri, Kansas, and Texas and I've never had to go to a shelter. The way people talk you'd think the things sweep across the countryside like a broom. Reasonable precautions need to be observed but obsession on the subject is not healthy.