Deja Vu!

Hey Marti, First of all, I don't know how anyone prepares for a tornado. I have lived in California where we experienced earthquakes but unless it's a 5. or higher, it usually doesn't do much damage except maybe if you are right over it. Now I live in Fl. where we get hurricanes. But living in Central Fl. I've lived through a few that did no damage to me but you never know. If I lived in a place where Tornados existed on a regular basis, I would take my valuables down to the basement.Even if it means I wouldn't have them on display all the time. I also think those people like you are very brave. Even still, I pray you never get hit by a Tornado. Love Ya, Leenie

Well, it depends on where you are. If you're at home then you're doing the right thing by heading to the basement. Since you have a basement it's probably the best place you can be since it is below ground level. They should be telling you what to do on the weather channel as well. And since you are on mylot obviously you have access to the internet so you can also visit the weather channel website and probably find info on there. But, in your case heading to the basement is definitely a step in the right direction. I must say I envy you just a little. Ever since I was old enough to know what a tornado is I've wanted to see one. Seeing it in pictures or on tv isn't good enough. I know people think I'm crazy(maybe I am a little) but I don't want to be in one I just want to see one. Maybe I should become a storm chaser.

You HAVE a basement? well, if you hear the sirens, get down there its a little late now, but before the next one, you might want to put a first aide kit down there and some tins of food, then have some jugs that you can fill with water if the warnings come and the Weather Channel (or a local TV station) says that there a good chance of tornadoes. Just remember to empty them again, they really shouldn't stay full with plain old tap water, even bottled water doesn't last forever.

I was just a mile or so from a couple yesterday myself, small ones but they still did some damage, took off a few roofs etc. The system formed in Vermont and dropped one there, dropped another about a half hour from where I live in New Hampshire (I have an awesome photo my brother took of it that I posted in a discusion this morning) and then it moved on to Maine where I am staying at my girlfriend's place. We stood right on her back porch and watched one forming. As for advice. Just make sure you have a place you can get to on a moments notice, preferably under ground like a basement. have some stored drinking water handy and keep an eye on the weather reports. Stay close to home if you can.

California is not tornado country. Still, the earthquakes when I was down in Los Angeles were pretty scary.

We live in Central Alabama and are under tornado watches or warnings lots during the tornado season. We also have lots of severe thunderstorms and high winds, too. We've lost many trees that way. We've never had anything other than trees knocked down during a storm. But, about a month ago, we were under a tornado warning and they were ALL around us - but it never touched down right near us - but ALL around us had houses hit and trees uprooted, power lines downed - within only a few miles from us. When the weather gets really bad enough near us when a tornado warning is out, we go to our basement in the back which is underground. We make sure we have on clothes and good shoes, flashlights, and my husband tells me to grab my purse. He worries much more than me. This last tornado sounded terrible. The winds had been bad at first. Then it got really quiet, but there was lighting all around us and thunder was really loud. I stepped out of the basement door to watch it and all of a sudden, I heard a sound that sounded like a train really near - and we don't have trains around here. We found out the next day that it hit up on the mountain probably 3 or 4 miles from us. The road was closed for over a day for them to remove trees and power and phone lines. One person's front yard had hundreds of trees - all were down! They all missed their house, but in the back, a tree hit their sunroom - this was a 2 story home. Now, that area looks so much different than it used to - all open and you used to not be able to even see the house most of the year. They are still removing trees from that yard and there will be lots to do to get the yard back in order. By the way, we mostly sit and watch the local news (our best trusted meteorologist) and when he says we need to seek shelter, we go to the basement. If you are out some place, hunt a big building to get in and get out of your car.

I don't know if I could live in a tornado-prone area. I think if I were to live in your area. I would have a lot of goods ready in the basement. Food, like can goods, that can last for a month. Water, flashlight, towels, heavy blankets, matches, because you can never know how damaging the tornado can be. I will also ready a small suitcase with our clothes. And it will always be in the basement and maybe you can changed its content, every two weeks. And a small battery operated portable radio, always in shape and ready with extras. Ah, by the way, fruits jams, marmalade, and honey, are less prone to get spoiled easily. They are a good source of sugar or energy and chocolates too. Am I being to stressed or paranoid about the ready for a tornado situation?..LOL But well, always take care, and be safe. (^^,)

I think you know about my storm room down in the basement--I don't use the sauna so it's now my refuge, stocked with food, water, medical supplies, a change of clothing and blankets plus dog leashes, food, bowls and medicine that I rotate like my other supplies. I have a hand-crank radio, too, so I can keep up with the news. I would advise you to pack some canned food, bottled water, clothing and dog food and supplies, all enough for at least a week. Put it under the basement stairs in a box that you can sit on so it won't get flung around should the wind get through any windows you have, or put it in a closet. That way you won't have to wait for help, you can be independent. After seeing the non-response (at least in the media) to the Nashville floods, I am more adamant than ever about being self-sufficient.

I was in the back yard putting my coals in my grill to start BBQn some chicken, then the winds suddenly picked up and the rain came. That's what I get for not checking the weater. But even still, it should hold off until I'm done with my food. I currenly have the lid closed and took some coals out to slowly cook it. The rain's dropping the grill temp, but I'm stuck at this point. Hopefully a tornado won't come! When I see a "watch" or "warning," I usually just open up my windows (the flies come in by the thousand where I don't have screens tho) and put the dog in the bathtub so he'll stop crying. More often than not, with the mountains there to block, tornadoe's don't settle in. But they still worry me.