Advice appreciated on where to shelter in tornado?

Posted by Quiggles1982@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 53 comments

I live in Northwest Indiana, and I'm getting super nervous about the storms that are coming tomorrow. Looking at all the radar pictures coming out, it looks like my little town is going to get a direct hit from whatever storm is coming unless something shifts.

I don't know where to go in case of a tornado because I don't really have a safe space in my new home.

The majority of my rooms are on exterior walls, including my bathroom, which faces the direction that most of our storms blow in from. I don't even have a hallway because I have one of those open concept floor plans.

I have three options for rooms that have no windows. First is my bedroom closet, but it's on an outside wall and is on the side of the house that is surrounded by large trees.

The other two options are small rooms that were created when the original garage to the house was converted into extra living space - a powder room and a coat closet. Above these two rooms is the second story, and in between the two rooms is the utility closet that has the gas water heater and gas furnace. Not sure those are the best option, even if they are technically the lowest level of the house.

I genuinely don't know what the best option would be, and I don't live in a town that has an emergency shelter.

What do you do in situations like this?

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Spiley_spile@reddit

I recommend staying with friends or family or checking if there are public evacuation storm shelters where you live.

If you must stay in yout home, follow as much of these instructions as you can:

Shelter-in-Place: Go to a small, interior, windowless room, in the lowest level. (Key words: Small, interior, windowless, lowest level)

What to do: Protect your head and neck. Take additional cover by putting blankets around you.

How long to stay: Stay inside until weather forecasts and local authorities say it is safe to do so. Use extreme care when leaving a building as there may be dangerous debris.

Here is a google drive document with different shelter in place instructions for various scenarios:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1U-F6Qh-w_9aVURpPcAimxrXC_kbhOwXP

PS contrary to popular belief, opening windows and doors does not reduce damage. Rather, it can weaken the structural integrity of you building.

To protect yourself from glass shattering, get: - 6mil plastic sheeting. (The thickness of plastic is measured in "mils".) - 2-3 Big rolls of Duct Tape - Measuring tape - Scissors - Step stool

Measure your doors and windows. Cut plastic sheeting to cover each. (Remember to cut the plastic sheeting 2-3 inches longer and wider than your doors and windows. Tape over your doors and windows. (Tape all the way around, following the edges of the plastic.)

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Lopsided-Total-5560@reddit

I’m not disputing the information you may have seen but I have heard contrary information. My son has his PHD in engineering with emphasis on material science. He explained to me the drop in barometric pressure and relevant PSI differential in tornados. On the extreme edge of possibility is a 10 PSI vacuum. To translate let’s use a 6 foot by 3 foot door ( to make the math easier). 36”x72”=2592 square inches. 2592x10=25,920. Can your door handle ~26000 pounds of force? I may have misunderstood his explanation and my math may be incorrect ( he’s the smart one, not me 🤣). That was just my understanding from a 10 minute conversation.

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Spiley_spile@reddit

It was very widely believed for a long time that cracking windows was the thing to do. I dont know what researched is out there that started changing the view. Or if its even applicable across the board. But, I think people should do what they think is safest. So, if you think opening the window is better, I wont argue with you, when I havent looked at the primary source research myself yet. (Certainly a thing to put on my list.) Regardless of all things, I hope you and everyone else comes through safe and well. :)

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Lopsided-Total-5560@reddit

In reality, the pressure is probably the least of our worries with a 300 mph wind gust 🤣. Stay safe my friend.

Cl3ar1c@reddit

I feel like staying in a basement is safer than being in a room above ground, if you have one, that is. Or if you don't, go for a room on the lowest floor of your house. Try to pick one that doesn't have too much stuff inside and not too many windows.

AdAgreeable198@reddit

Theres an app showing locations of tornado shelters called “Ward: shelters and bunkers”

canoegal4@reddit

a store with a walk-in cooler? I have seen some survival stories on YouTube with that

Past_Top3704@reddit

small town gas station near me took a direct hit. Don't remember EF #. store was completely destroyed except for the walk in cooler, everyone inside survived. the actual devastation path was maybe 500 feet wide really narrow but went directly thru the store. store owner/ cooler saved everyone

JudgeJuryEx78@reddit

I was leading an outdoor crew in Iowa and decided, during tornado season, that if we had time during a tornado warning we would go shelter in the bathrooms at the nearest Casey's. 🤷‍♀️

For in Iowa, Casey's are like hairs on a head.

Beaver_Squeezer77@reddit

Plus you could get a pork fritter sandwich! And a fresh one of those from Casey’s is last meal level goodness 😂

456name789@reddit

And while I’ve done that many times myself, there are just as many times that had a tragic ending. It’s as good of an option as any. 😊

It's got to be better than a house with no inner rooms on a slab

UngnomeCawler@reddit

Interior powder room.

After living through an EF3 with us sheltered in a closet, I bought a tornado shelter and won't live in another home without one. They mounted ours to the slab in the garage. It's so much peace of mind.

PrisonerV@reddit

Fwiw. Tornadoes are super uncommon. You get about 40 a year in Indiana, most in the summer.

And the last few years, they're trending south.

Definitely want a plan but know they're pretty uncommon.

infinitum3d@reddit

How is 40 a year uncommon?

Summer is 13 weeks. That’s 3 a week!?!

Indiana is 1.3 million square miles. Also most tornadoes don't make it to the ground or only go a couple miles.

They're uncommon. You might never see one unless you activity go looking.

abouttothunder@reddit

While true, still best to prepare. I live in SE PA, and we had a tornado halfway destroy our house in 1998. It's the scariest thing I've experienced in my life.

Get in the center of the house under a study table with some pillows and thick blankets around for padding.

Good luck!

GeorgePBurdell86@reddit

The closet is the safest. The fear of a tornado isn't so much getting picked up by the tornado itself as it is the flying glass and debris from a broken window. This can not be understated.

BuskaNFafner@reddit

Checking in. Did you end up having to shelter?

Quiggles1982@reddit (OP)

Yes. Ended up with a really bad tornado that hit the town just south of me. Maybe 15 minutes from my house. There were two fatalities. It was really scary, but luckily I only have hail damage to my house and lost a few large sections of my tree.

WhereDidAllTheSnowGo@reddit

Got friends with a basement?

Bring over a case for a storm party. Invite them over for a sunny day party first

ambitious_mogul@reddit

I have never thought about wearing a helmet, but I do have one. Now I'm concerned for my dogs 😬

Grew up in Texas and Iowa, now live in Pennsylvania. We grew up to head to the bathroom and get in the tub. Cover yourself with anything. We rarely see tornadoes where I live now but I had a neighbor freak out years ago and ask me what to do because we live in a mobile home.

I said 2 things. Put on good shoes and tie them tight. It’s easier to walk through debris with shoes than barefoot. And write your name on your arm with a marker if you are really worried. Tornadoes are so quick and so variable in power, you never know what might happen. Stay safe

Also wear long pants and get some work gloves. If you have to crawl out from debris, you'll be glad for the protection.

AlterEthos@reddit

Ha! From Auburn, looking for the same advice 😆

Key-Ad1506@reddit

Probably won't do any good in a surprise situation, but you could reach out to your local or county EMA group. They may have a list of shelters in the area or list of places that open their doors to people as shelters (schools, churches, etc). They may also have some recommendations on where/how to shelters in place.

Not sure where in NW Indiana you are, but this is an example of who i was saying to reach out to. This is Jasper County EMA. https://www.jasperema-hls.org/

There_Are_No_Gods@reddit

I'd also like to point out that while you're trying to address this imminent storm, you can also be a lot more prepared for next storm system, by installing even a small 3'x5' steel tornado shelter, which can be purchased and shipped to you for under $5k, with an easy self installation typically.

I went through years of tornado anxiety before landing on that solution, and I can now relax quite a bit more having that bolted to the concrete floor in the corner of my garage.

I went with Survive-a-Storm, but there are many similar options, with quite a few available for order through big box stores like Home Depot.

The main trick in my case was getting the shelter on its pallet from the delivery truck into place inside my garage and then getting the multi-ton shelter off the pallet. If you're handy and have some tools, there are ways to make all that happen, but otherwise it may be worthwhile to pay a few thousand for a professional installation.

TempusSolo@reddit

SW Oklahoman here and a member of the 'always in the bullseye' club. The truth is, tornadoes that spin up in a target zone are still remarkably small compared to the area in the zone. Stay aware and prepare appropriately but don't let anxiety control you. Even in the bullseye you are almost never even going to see one.

Grouchy_Willow_1884@reddit

Arkansas. We have one true interior room, which is a 3’ wide coat closet. Not big enough for our family. Every room of the house is has an exterior wall. We opt for the hallway instead, which is between the outer bedrooms (we close the doors, not that that would do much) and the fireplace wall of the living room. It’s really the only small part of the house that doesn’t have windows.

Fun_Level_4016@reddit

Life long texan... I would choose the powder room. You look for interior room, you did that.

Next, rooms with plumbing are best because the pipes go into the ground. If the walls around you are blowing away, hang onto the toilet like your life depends on it.

If it had a bathtub, that would be even better. Climb in the tub and pull a mattress or couch cushions over you.

Be bless and stay safe.

jdpro89@reddit

Fair advise, except the toilet. Look how tiny the bolts are that hold it to the floor. A strong todler could pull up most toilets if they tried very hard.

dogsRgr8too@reddit

Plus, have you seen the advice about replacing toilets immediately if they crack since the porcelain shards are so dangerous? Not sure I would want to risk it breaking if I was holding it.

I_like_boobs28008@reddit

Greetings fellow NWI person! Everyone seems to have answered your question. Just wanted to tell you good luck and be safe. Supposed to rain alllll night. Take care and be well!

SuperBaconjam@reddit

If you know it’s coming then the best thing you can do is not even be there. Go see a friend or a family member with a basement that night, or call a hotel and ask if they have a basement and rent a room. If you absolutely must stay home then there’s plenty of other good answers here in the comments.

roxinmyhead@reddit

Powder room... bike helmet or big book to put over head... couch cushions/smaller mattress...pillow fort yourself in there. Put sturdy shoes on.

Tweedledownt@reddit

Just want to put out there that has stations are usually built to a standard to deal with an explosion, so your best bet might be to take your bug out bag and sit on it at the nearest gas station while the danger passes. You'll be there with a bunch of truckers and unlucky travelers, so bring uno.

popcornnugget_s@reddit

I was born and raised in northwest Indiana and lived there for 27 years, Valpo and Chesterton to be exact. For what it’s worth I never experienced a life threatening tornado. As I got older I started not even heading to the basement or crawl space. I know this doesn’t answer your question, but hopefully it will help put your mind at ease.

Lost_Engineering_phd@reddit

Here in KS we chase those damn things. But seriously, I have been through a couple, get to the center of your house. Often the bathroom is on an outside wall, and often it has windows, both are bad. If you have an inside closet on a lower level that might be your best bet. Cover yourself with the heaviest comforter you have and curl up as low as you can. The heavy blanket helps with flying debris and glass.

Thanks everyone. Based on all of your advice, I'll probably try the powder room and hope for the best. Really hoping the storms don't end up as bad as they're saying they will be.

sylvanfoothills@reddit

Absolutely no trustworthy neighbors with basements or cellars?

It's a subdivision and we all have the same setup. None of my surrounding neighbors have a basement.

iveegee@reddit

Oklahoman here-hold my beer. Closet or pantry might be your best bet. Helmet for sure. Couch cushions. Keep an emergency bag handy.

Yup. Keep your phone charged and whatever you’re using to watch Max or Ryan.

If you have pets they need to be contained in something with you. Leash on a dog, cats in carriers. All their paperwork with you.

You should have a go-bag. Your important papers, meds, chargers, CAR & HOUSE KEYS. If you own weapons they need to be secured.

If you decide to leave your house and take a day trip out of the area, which is not very realistic with this pattern setting up, make sure you take everything above with you. And snacks.

Valeriejoyow@reddit

I'd probably drag a mattress into the bathroom. You could lay in the bathtub with a mattress over you.

distributingthefutur@reddit

Tornados usually hit the west or south side of a structure first. They also rotate counterclockwise so south side gets it. If you don't have an interior closet, a bathtub or more exterior closet on the east to north of the house is better.

Rurikungart@reddit

In any house without a basement, I'm running to the bathroom and getting in the bathtub. Ideally grab something to put over you, even if its just ripping down the shower curtain and using that, but ideally a mattress or something. The bathtub is anchored very securely in even the cheapest construction, and also has the added benefit of the attached plumbing that will help hold it down. Do you have a crawlspace or is the house directly on a concrete slab? If it does have a crawlspace, you might be able to find an access inside the house, which would also be a good option, especially if you can secure yourself to the main sewer line.

Tinyberzerker@reddit

Texas here. Whichever closet/room with no windows is closest to the interior of the home is best. You want as many walls as possible between you and the outside. There should be a gas shut off valve (usually with a red handle). Grab cushions, wear a helmet, anything to protect your head and body. If your house gets hit, it will be over in seconds.

Jolopy4099@reddit

All I know about tornado safety is usually the safest location is on the lowest floor in the center with as many walls between you and the outside of the house.

Don't get tornados where I am but interested to see what others say.

adavis463@reddit

1st priority - get low. Be on the first floor or basement, if you have one.

2nd priority - get in. If possible, don't be in a room with an exterior wall.

3rd priority - cover. Lay down with some kind of shelter. Under a sturdy table, in a bathtub; whatever you have.

It's hard to tell from your description of your house, but it seems like the powder room might be your best bet if it comes to that.

fireofpersephone@reddit

Can you get behind the stairs? Also, get a helmet. That advice was given to me by a friend who deals with them more frequently. She immediately puts the kids bike helmets on.

SurprisedWildebeest@reddit

Wear a helmet, and get under a table surrounded by mattresses? (Normally I’d suggest getting in a bathtub with a mattress over you but it seems you’ve ruled out the bathrooms.)