What to do during a tornado watch or warning? (Dallas: apartment, crime)

[Wandering53]

I have not lived in a place with tornadoes, and I want to be prepared. What do you do when there is a tornado watch or warning? Is there a low-crime part of the Tyler (and surrounding area) that has small homes with basements? I want a very affordable rental. If I live in a regular apartment, should I just evacuate when there is a warning and hope the warning comes soon enough?

[KathrynAragon]

Basements are very, very rare in east Texas. You are almost certainly NOT going to be able to find a home with a basement - sorry. It's because of soil type and a very shallow freeze line.

During a watch, there's no need to panic or be overly concerned. Just WATCH your phone or weather conditions in general. During a warning, get into a small, interior room with no windows - a coat closet, a powder room, under some stairs, that sort of thing.

I've lived in Tornado Alley most of my adult life and gone through more tornado warnings than I can even remember. I've actually been in the path of several tornadoes which touched down near me. Not once has my home been damaged or anyone I know been hurt.

That's not to say the risk isn't there, but the odds are very much in your favor.

[Mark Senior]

Originally Posted by Wandering53

I have not lived in a place with tornadoes, and I want to be prepared. What do you do when there is a tornado watch or warning? Is there a low-crime part of the Tyler (and surrounding area) that has small homes with basements? I want a very affordable rental. If I live in a regular apartment, should I just evacuate when there is a warning and hope the warning comes soon enough?

Kathryn covered it all. Simply a Watch, tornadoes "could" occur in an area designated. A "warning" a tornado has been confirmed/spotted "nearby" do as Kathryn stated. Not to be "overly' concerned for sure.

[C24L]

basements are very uncommon in Texas so I think you are probably out of luck with that requirement,OP.

[TxStorm72]

If I may add........it also helps me to know my location in proximity to the tornado warned area, as well as direction of storm cell.

For example, if a tornado is spotted in Troup and movement of the storm is NE, residents of Arp and Overton need to take shelter immediately, away from windows for sure! Residents of other parts of the county like say Lindale may not be directly in the path, but need to closely monitor the storm to make sure that the path of the storm hasn't changed and to also be aware of other storms that might be moving into their part of the county.

If you are able to, watching a local TV station like KLTV 7, KETK 56 or KYTX 19 will help keep you informed on the changing severe weather conditions. NOAA weather radio is helpful as well. I like to use the Weather Channel app on my phone so that I can pull up the radar. MyRadar is another radar app that I like to use.

[bpollen]

Originally Posted by Wandering53

I have not lived in a place with tornadoes, and I want to be prepared. What do you do when there is a tornado watch or warning? Is there a low-crime part of the Tyler (and surrounding area) that has small homes with basements? I want a very affordable rental. If I live in a regular apartment, should I just evacuate when there is a warning and hope the warning comes soon enough?

I lived in Dallas for decades, where we had more than a few tornado watches and warnings. Only once did it pass near my house.

What you need to do is decide on your plan ahead of time. Tornadoes move fast, so you need to be able to get to your area and in place in just a couple of minutes.

Like Kathryn said, select maybe an interior hallway or room with no windows. A mattress for covering you and yours would be great, if time permits, as protection from flying debris, or a thick quilt. Close all doors to the room. Maybe grab your purse so you'll have ID and such, if necessary. In my case, I would have to grab my two dogs, as well.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by bpollen

I lived in Dallas for decades, where we had more than a few tornado watches and warnings. Only once did it pass near my house.

What you need to do is decide on your plan ahead of time. Tornadoes move fast, so you need to be able to get to your area and in place in just a couple of minutes.

Like Kathryn said, select maybe an interior hallway or room with no windows. A mattress for covering you and yours would be great, if time permits, as protection from flying debris, or a thick quilt. Close all doors to the room. Maybe grab your purse so you'll have ID and such, if necessary. In my case, I would have to grab my two dogs, as well.

Yes, all this - exactly!

We had a tornado warning a year or so ago (when that tornado went through Van which isn't all that far from me). I knew from the track of the storm that it was going to come close to me. That was one of the few times in my life that I've actually said, "OK, that's it - I'm getting in a small, windowless, exterior room!" It is funny how one's brain quickly sorts through what's important. I rounded my two dogs and my cat into the hall powder room, and then grabbed my lap top, my phone, my glasses, and one more item - the porcelain figurine of the Virgin Mary that had been my grandmother's.

We escaped the storm but Van got flattened in one area.

[Kerby W-R]

What if it's in the middle of the night ?

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by Kerby W-R

What if it's in the middle of the night ?

Set up an alarm on your phone.

[Mark Senior]

Yes, I received a weather alarm phone call at my home inside the city limits in Tyler in the last two years.

Also, great for me is a city alarm system that I would have to be dead not to here, yes, near me.

But what about out in the country, does the T.V station alarm systems contact those by phone out in the county?