I grew up fascinated but fearful of storms as I spent most of my childhood in a mobile home and when a storm hit, we headed for town to find shelter with family.
Since we moved into a home with a basement I have been watching every tornado show I can get my hands on and if I lived further west into the area where most of the storm chasing occurs it would definitely be my full time hobby!
I recently purchased my first home and my husband I started to discuss and formulate a plan for tornado safety so I thought this would be a place to get some opinions!
I live in Indiana and we usually get our fair share of bad spring storms but this year weve had severe straight-line winds and several tornados which is fairly unusual for our area. All this recent severe weather has made me worry more than usual so I thought to ease my mind I would investigate and hopefully find an answer to ease my concern.
We have a typical bi-level home, it is a rectangle shape, with a ground level entry in the center. On entering there is a stairway leading up to the first floor (about 4 feet above ground) and the other stair leading down to the basement. The basement is only about 4 and a half feet below grade with windows and remaining walls and ceiling area rising to approximately 3 feet above grade. We are unsure where to go should a tornado in fact be in the vicinity of our home (we realize this is unlikely living in Indiana but want to be prepared after all that has happened in Missouri and out own state this past 2 weeks).
In the basement there is a closet that faces west that sits underneath both stair cases, its a very small space but there are no windows and I read recently that stairways are structurally sound and would be good for this purpose.
There is a hallway in the middle of the basement as well as a bathroom and laundry room on the east side, one has the stair well out of the basement and both have windows. There is also a utility room in the middle of the basement with no windows that houses the furnace/water heater/softner.
Where would you go if this were your only shelter?
My husband is concerned about getting "sucked out" of the basement since the basement isn't 6 or 7 feet under ground like he imagines a full basement to be and I am concerned about the home shifting and collapsing in on top of us. As we are starting a family we want to pick the safest place for our children should taking cover be necessary.
Thanks in advance to all opinions so we can make our decisions!
I attached a photo below for a reference. The basement ceiling is level with the white portion of the siding just above the bottom windows.

Jessica Durbin, FNP

Sorry, the photo wouldn't upload...Here is the second try.

Hi, mrsdurbin,

Great thread!

I grew up in a split entry home in a suburb of Minneapolis and we weathered many very severe storms in our basement. We began sheltering exactly where it's been determined to be one of the most UN-safe locations; the SW corner. Upon witnessing first hand what happens in that segment of the home (windward side) after the Tornado Outbreak on May 6, 1965, we sheltered under the stairs ever afterward. Too many basements, whether full or partial had blocks tumbled into the SW corner and many people lost their lives in that corner of their homes. One image that sticks firmly in my mind to this day is the stairwells that stood up through the floors. Nothing else left - just the stairwells.

Our basement was unfinished, yet the stairs were sturdy and we would tuck well under where they met the basement floor.
It's been determined that the best bet is to shelter somewhere in the Leeward side (usually the E/NE portion) where debris is generally brought OVER and AWAY. So...I'd say to shelter under the stairs, inside that closet, since it sounds like your entry is on the Eastern side of the home.

Also, I'll link FEMA's specs on building your own storm/safe room. Info there you can download for building plans:

www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/saferoom/fema320.shtm


And, Tx Tech's recommendations per the same:

www.depts.ttu.edu/weweb/shelters/inresshelter.php

Please take the time to read them and share them with your husband. You're doing the best thing possible - being aware and pro-active regarding the safety of your family in your home.

Thanks for the links I will definitely read them! Actually, our entrance is on the west side and thats where the stairs are located (west and center). There are no rooms free of windows on the east side of the basement and all the heavy household items are on the east side of the home on the first floor (shower, tub, stove, fridge etc)...

West side. Ugh. Still, way down near the floor of the basement, beneath those stairs - safe place.


Does your hubby enjoy building things (I hope)?
Really, all you'd need to do is beef up a closet w/3/4" plywood - ceiling & walls (screwed into the studs - not nailed), and add a beefy solid core door.

Plenty of things to toss around, Jessica. Best of luck with it!

If we are talking with regards to 'saferooms', I don't know much. But I remember seeing somewhere, although quite costly, you can actually buy a pre-made safe room that is installed in your home. If there is a link out there for something as such, I will link as soon as I find it.

I don't know much - Hope this kinda helps and throws another option in the mix.

<Max>

Does thu use of plywood celing still apply if the celing of the basement is the subfloor of the first level? There is nothing substantial inbetween the floors and if the first floor goes, such goes the basement celing (except for under the stairs). I suppose he could reinforce that closet..

I was thinking of the closet under the stairs. Screw the plywood to the stair studs - just for more reinforcement and to protect from any flying debris. Ceilings/walls/doors. Just think tight, small and strong, and you'll be good to go!

Excellent thread, mrsdurbin! And welcome to TVN!

This is something I've been pondering myself lately, since our close call a few weeks back.

I have been looking at a safe room, but they are pricey and since we may be selling our home soon, I'm not sure I want to go that route.

Keep us updated on your progress!

And karma for you for this thread!