In strong tornadoes, often the entire roof and/or upper floors are removed from the dwelling, which exposes the remaining walls to more stress and risk of failure.Įven if the interior walls remain standing, they could be penetrated by high-velocity projectiles.Īn approved safe room has reinforced walls, ceiling and door. specifications is not 100 percent invulnerable, but remains a very viable option to an underground shelter and offers the additional value of not having to leave your home to get to shelter." This has to do with more supportive wall framing versus ceiling surface area.Īccording to Doswell, "An above-ground safe room built to Texas Tech. Studies have shown that when much of a home has been destroyed, often the only surviving part of the dwelling is a small interior room, such as a closet or bathroom. If you do not have a basement and cannot afford these alternatives, you have no truly safe options and have to do the best you can by sheltering in place.
Neither of these are necessarily inexpensive. Misconception: Tornadoes Are Attracted to Mobile Homesįortunately, storms of this magnitude are extremely rare even in tornado-prone portions of the Plains, Midwest and South.īoth Doswell and Smith also agree that being in an open area in a basement may not provide enough protection.Īccording to Smith, "If a below-ground safe room was not available but a basement was present, I would head downstairs and get under sturdy furniture or a stairwell."ĭoswell added, "In violent tornadoes, sometimes the floor collapses or is swept away and debris can then be thrown into the basement."įor existing homes that do not have a basement, retrofitting a small, interior room or adding a safe room above ground within a large room may be the only cost effective alternative. Vice President/Chief Innovation Executive of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions and author of the book "Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather."īoth Doswell and Smith stated that in these storms large, heavy airborne objects, like a vehicle, can be flung at a high rate of speed and can compromise the room if struck. Smith agree that risk in an above-ground safe room increases during the strongest tornadoes.ĭoswell is founder and President of Doswell Scientific Consulting and is author or co-author of more than 100 formal publications, mostly related to severe storms. However, since few individuals have quick access to such a structure or the funds to complete the project, there are other less expensive, close-by options such as an interior safe room within your home or work area that is located above the ground or the same setup in a basement.īoth severe weather experts and Certified Consulting Meteorologists Dr. Many experts agree that your odds for surviving a direct hit with a strong tornado (EF-4 or EF-5) are greatest in a nearby below-ground storm shelter. However, there are pros and cons to all of these options.
Options range from seeking shelter in basements to interior above-ground rooms to below-ground storm shelters. In the chilling scenario that a tornado warning is issued for your area, what do the experts feel are the best choices for avoiding serious injury or loss of life?
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