Tornado plan
Posted by jessikawithak@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 15 comments
I semi recently moved and no longer have an obvious choice for tornado sheltering. My bathtub is pretty close to an exterior wall. I have no basement. This place is basically made of Lincoln logs.. I have a hallway down the middle. All of the actual rooms have an exterior wall. The ceiling is drop ceiling with a layer of insulation and then roof.
My thought is hunker in the hallway between rooms directly in the middle? Second thought would be to hunker on the internal wall of my bedroom and pull my mattress on top of me. Anyone have any better ideas? Are these good ideas?
I’m in northeast Ohio so tornado likelihood isn’t currently high, but it’s increasing. We’ve had a couple nearby in the last 2 years.
GuiltyOutcome140@reddit
Yes. Hunker in the hallway. Wear shoes and a bike helmet, if you have one.
theusualsalamander@reddit
I'm just imagining having a girl over and her being like "oh do you bike?" "No that's my tornado helmet"
ImAFemaleReble@reddit
You go out on the porch and see if you can see it if you're a true Midwesterner
jessikawithak@reddit (OP)
I mean, yea. Def gotta check if it’s there first and if it’s heading this way. No need to be hunkering down for nothing
ImAFemaleReble@reddit
My man.
BaldyCarrotTop@reddit
Use the hallway. And fortify it, if you can.
1) Go up in the attic and screw down a couple of sheets of plywood across the top of the ceiling joists above the hallway.
2) Fortify the doors in the hallway. A good place to start would be to remove a couple of hinge screws. Then replace them with a couple of long construction screws. The idea is to get the door attached to the house framing, not just to the door trim.
3) maybe do the same thing with the strike plate too.
sawotee@reddit
I'm putting together a go bag for this reason. Every room touches an exterior wall and has at least one window. There's literally nowhere safe for me to hunker down. My radio has been going off constantly these past few hours.
jessikawithak@reddit (OP)
I’m so sorry. That’s so stressful. I hope everything goes okay for you!
11systems11@reddit
Definitely the hallway then. We're lucky enough to have a bathroom in the middle of the house with additional walls close by. Also in NE OH, hey neighbor!
jessikawithak@reddit (OP)
Hey neighbor!
Ra_a_@reddit
Anyone have those “open floorplan” home?
No where enclosed.
Maybe laundry rooms and coat closet ?
Pea-and-Pen@reddit
The hallway is our only option also and we are currently in an “extreme” level of tornado threat. Tonight through Sunday morning are supposed to be bad. Close all the doors to your hall and stay down low. Cover yourself with a thick blanket or even a twin mattress if you have one. If you have a helmet of some sort, even a bike helmet, wear it.
I’ve seen people say to always go into your bathtub. Even if the bathroom has a window or is on exterior wall. Earlier today I saw a lady post a picture saying to not depend on the bathtub thing. Her house had been hit by a tornado in mid March and some wood posts had been thrown through her granite shower. The ends of the posts were sticking inside the wall about 6 inches.
jessikawithak@reddit (OP)
I’m a bit beyond the tornado threat area this time. We’re just getting bad storms. Hope all goes well for yall!
Omg that’s terrifying. My last living situation was in an apartment building and my bathtub was smack dab center of the whole building so that was my answer there. I’d pick a lot of places before my bathtub here…
kkinnison@reddit
Two things happen when you are hit by a tornado. Debris flying and worse case, roof being torn off.
Most emergency plans involve dealing with the first issue, while hoping the 2nd doesn't become an issue
interior hallway away from windows should be fine.
CharleyDawg@reddit
Yes. If nothing else, an interior hallway or closet with blankets to cover up.