Tornadoes and Apartments

[The Dark Gundam]

I live in metro Birmingham, Alabama, and supposedly, we're supposed to get some really bad weather(in otherwards, tornadoes) tonight and for Easter. Well, my family lives in a two-story house so we just go to the 1st story bathroom(the lowest part of the house), but what if you live in an apartment? I'm guessing there's a majority here that do. So what would you do if you lived in an apartment with a huge tornado coming. I'm just wondering since I'll be graduating from high school and hopefully going to college.

[ktoriyama]

And in college I stay in a what I'd like to believe sturdy brick house I just stay put and hope for the best.

[Metroid_spy]

I never really saw a tornado in real life cause I don't live in a tornado prone area, so i have no idea about apartments.

[Wanted]

Then why, pray tell, did you post? If the discussion doesn't pertain to you, then step from it.

[Tenku]

Hmm. Yeah, we're supposed to get some bad weather alright. It's started, but nothing too bad has happen yet.

I think you are supposed to move to the lowest floor and in something that has no windows...but it can't be like near towards the outside of the house. ..or something like that. :confused:

Since we have a open house (house that has little or no walls 'cept the bedrooms) I can only think of the laundry room. And it's kinda small. :shrug:

[William C. Maune]

Part of it depends on where in the building your apartment is located. I'm in the corner of an apartment building that juts into the ground and thus I'd probably get into a different place than most. As for some general information though, here is a link straight from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma:

http://swillinois.redcross.org/Tornado%20Safety.htm

The part specifically about apartments says:

"In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail."

I hope that helps! As we enter the middle of severe weather season, this is a great time for everyone, no matter where they live or work, to practice their severe weather plan if they have not done so already. By doing this you will already know what actions to take if the time comes and it will make things a lot easier, and safer.

[tucsoncoyote]

The part specifically about apartments says:

"In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail." Now what Will Here is saying is true..

If you don't have a basement, or a storm celler, try to get to the lowest floor and get into a small room (Preferably a bathroom because a lot of bathrooms walls are reinforced with plumbing. (And thus Strengthens the walls .

Also The Bathtub is the best place to be in case a twister hits. the reason is that most bathtubs can be sheltered..(and using those blankets and pillows and Matresses can help prevent flying / falling debris from hitting you.

Of course also one additional Piece of Advice. Knowing the difference between a Tornado Watch and aTornado Warning.

A Watch Means "Conditions are Favorable for the Formation of Tornadoes." but doesn't mean that a torndo is actually forming... in short, the conditions are perfect for Storms and Tornadoes to Form.

A Warning on the Other hand means that There is an Actual Funnel Cloud Or tornado Spotted that is on the ground.It's What they call "Ground Truth."

If you have a NOAA Weather radio, Be sure to have it with working Batteries and if a Warning goes off Advising a if a tirbadi Aooriachng your area, Follow what William Suggested.. Get to the lowest Floor, Smallest Room Possible, Bathroom Preferable, but if not, a Closet will work. make sure you have those blankets with you.. and one word of advice.. Hang on and Pray.. Cause usuall a twister isn't that long.

:coyote: