as tropical storm season approaches, I wanted to recommend a site that I have found very helpful

http://www.crownweather.com/?page_id=29

I am thinking about getting a storm shelter for my family. We live just north of Dallas and tornadoes are not as common here as in Oklahoma but they are still pretty common. I had previously thought about the safe room reinforced closet but the tornadoes that hit south of Dallas and in Norman, OK are making that not seem good enough. A reinforced closet is just not going to stop a flying Ford F150. Both of these tornadoes have tossed vehicles around like Styrofoam cups. The only place I see safe from these types of tornadoes is below ground. I don't like the idea that debris could pile on top of an in ground shelter. I saw one of the survival bunker shows on TV where they installed a jack to help raise the door even if something heavy was on top of that. I could probably do something like that.

I found three local companies selling storm shelters. I have filled out inquires to all three.
I got a price from one company this morning and was surprised it wasn't more expensive. It was a 6' x 8' concrete in ground shelter installed for $3,000. The company is in the septic tank business and I assume the storm shelter is basically a septic tank with a door ,ladder, and vents.

What's your guys thoughts?

Starting a thread for basic big storm planning, resources and prep.

I just got a new i-Phone (the 5) and have been researching all kinds of apps. Ran across this short list for preparedness apps:

http://www.preparis.com/blog/2013-best-emergency-preparedness-apps-app-5/

The apps listed (all free) include:

FEMA
Red Cross Shelter List (contains a disaster news link)
Red Cross First-Aid
WISER
Accu-Weather


I'm continuing the search and will add ones here that I find worthy. Such as:

WebMD


Anyone else have further suggestions?


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According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

"The current average lead-time for tornado warnings is 13 minutes."

http://www.noaa.gov/features/protecting/tornados101.html


What can you do within that 13 minutes timeframe?

Certainly argues for having a shelter pre-stocked (whether a below-ground shelter or interior bathroom) with flashlight, first-aid, battery-powered radio, etc.

I've also noted in the images out of Oklahoma that even the worst-hit vehicles at least seem to be intact, as opposed to the residential homes which were obliterated. Argues for having sturdy leather work gloves and first aid, blanket/towels in cars to use in the aftermath of your own home's damage or to help rescue others in the debris.

If you were now living in tornado alley, what would you put in your child's school bag (backpack) that might be helpful if they were trapped in the rubble of a school?

Seems to me that a whistle, bandanna, bandaids, little flashlight would be good things for them to have at all times and especially in a crisis. Of course, they may not be near their bag when something happens but they might be.

I'll be adding OKC to my litany in response to the question: why prepare?

As little time as 13 minutes seems, there is zero notice for an earthquake or terrorist attacks.


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