How safe are basements

[STurner]

There has been people killed inside there basement by tornadoes and this is where they were told to go by meteorologists and NWS warnings stating to go to the basement. The warning would also state to use blankets, matresses, and pillows to cover yourself and regardless people were still killed or seriously injured even though they were in their basement. Now I am not sure on how NWS warnings stating to not only go to the basement but also get under a substantial object such as a stairwell, pool table, or some sturdy piece of furniture in addition to blankets, pillows, and matresses. I read an article on the Oak Grove, Alabama F5 tornado on April 8, 1998 and it killed 9people who were taking shelter in their basement. Six of seven people were sucked out of their basement as their house was lifted off the foundation with them and the tornado was at F4 intensity at this point. A woman and her children were killed in their basement covered with blankets when a concrete wall collapsed onto them and the tornado was at least F4 intensity at this point. Even the more recent tornadoes such as the Greensburg and Parkersburg EF5 tornadoes a number of people were killed by debris in their basement or they were sucked out of it. I am certain the tornado was probably EF4 or EF5 intensity when this happened. There was one girl who survived a tornado inside her basement but was also in a safe room. Had she not been in there she most likely would have been seriously injured or killed. This tornado levelled her 6400 sq ft home and it was at least high-end EF3 intensity when this happened. It was the Kenosha County Wisconsin EF3 tornado on January 7, 2008. I am just wondering if meteorologists and NWS tornado warning statements have encouraged more usage of other substantial objects in the basement as well as being in there especially if the tornado is very strong or violent.

 

[Jason Foster]

I don't understand why we keep questioning what the NWS has been saying for years....Ditches, basements, cars....everyone is trying to re-write the rules on safety because of one or two cases that went against what the normal advise said was safe.

Nothing is perfect....basements are one of the safest bets you got in a tornado situation. I think rather than look at the few and far between deaths that occur in basements, why not look for the survival rates of those who sought shelter in a basement. I would bet that ratio would be around 100:1 or more in favor of basements versus other limited options.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Barring a storm cellar or a specially constructed, reinforced room, a basement is the place where you're likeliest to survive a direct hit from a tornado. It's a pretty good bet, but it's not failsafe. Nothing is. Basements don't offer written guarantees, just better odds than above ground.

 

[Greg Campbell]

???

If people demand near absolute safety from an EF4+, they are more than welcome to build a safe room in the basement or a proper tornado/fallout/zombie shelter beneath the back yard. Few people do, so 'Get in the basement and cover your ass!' is excellent advice.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center's tornado safety page says:

Q
I have a basement, and my friend said to go to the southwest corner in a tornado. Is that good?

A
Not necessarily. The SW corner is no safer than any other part of the basement, because walls, floors and furniture can collapse (or be blown) into any corner. The "safe southwest corner" is an old myth based on the belief that, since tornadoes usually come from the SW, debris will preferentially fall into the NE side of the basement. There are several problems with this concept, including:

1. Tornadoes are not straight-line winds, even on the scale of a house, so the strongest wind may be blowing from any direction; and
2. Tornadoes themselves may arrive from any direction.

In a basement, the safest place is under a sturdy workbench, mattress or other such protection -- and out from under heavy furniture or appliances resting on top of the floor above.

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[Greg Higgins]

You also need to consider how the basement is constructed. Just digging a hole and placing a wood frame home on top is not goiing to provide the same level of protection as a basement that has reinforced concrete on all 6 sides. Look at pictures from May 1999 and Greensburg of the damage. Notice how many basements were opened to the elements when the "roof" (the house) of the basement was blown away exposing the occupants to the storm and / or dropping debris on top of them.

 

[Darren Addy]

Although having debris dropped on you may be less hazardous than having it blown through you. People often make the mistake of thinking of tornadoes as simply powerful wind and forget that a tornado on the ground going through a town is basically a big circulating schrapnel field that is weed-wacking everything in its path. The most important thing, IMHO, is to be below ground level - below where that debris is circulating at high speeds. We've all seen the 2x4 through the automobile, etc. Not tough to imagine how little resistance the human body would put up to such forces.

I'll take my chances under the pool table in the basement or in the downstairs bathroom over anything above ground... any day of the week.

 

[Justin Wiley]

I pretty much agree with everybody.

I imagine most deaths are associated with F4/F5 tornadoes. Seeing how those only make up about 2% of all tornadoes, I think you're kind of skewing the stats a bit Shane. All of the examples you gave happened to be by the strongest and rarest forms of all tornadoes. The majority of people survive unharmed in their basements. Unfortunately, if you're ever unlucky enough to be in the path of a violent tornado and you don't have a safe room, you can't guarantee absolute 100% safety.

I think it's pretty obvious you want to be below ground level when in the path of a tornado, especially a violent one. What more else could you do?

 

[STurner]

I am sure meterologists and NWS offices are doing the very best they can when getting the warning out. Just hope people realize that when they are in the path of a violent tornado to not only get in the basement if they have one but also to get under a very substantial object to protect them from being sucked up or killed by falling debris. Actually Justin I believe F4/EF4 or F5/EF5 tornadoes make up less than 1% of all tornadoes because of tornadoes probably missed in the past. It even seems F3/EF3 tornadoes are not much more common but have been just as deadly over the past couple decades.

 

[Jeff Duda]

Realize that, although 11 (I think) people died in the Greensburg EF5, that means that out of the estimated 1500 people that lived in Greensburg at the time, 1500-11 = 1489 survived! That's an amazingly good survival rate of over 99%. Granted, there were probably some people who weren't in town that night (say 500 were in some other place), and of those in town, probably 66% took shelter in a basement. These are very rough estimates, but that reduces the survival rate to 655/666 = 98.3%...still quite high for hiding in a basement facing one of the most violent tornadoes in the last 10-20 years. I'd suggest the basement any time (unless a superior shelter is available).

 

[Jesse Risley]

Just hope people realize that when they are in the path of a violent tornado to not only get in the basement if they have one but also to get under a very substantial object to protect them from being sucked up or killed by falling debris. Actually Justin I believe F4/EF4 or F5/EF5 tornadoes make up less than 1% of all tornadoes because of tornadoes probably missed in the past. It even seems F3/EF3 tornadoes are not much more common but have been just as deadly over the past couple decades.

Violent tornadoes are actually much less common (statistically), even when accounting for better reporting methods in the last half century.

I'm not sure what other course of action you would recommend. When all is said and done, no one can coax an individual to take what is deemed as the utmost proper course of action in every situation. To many a Joe Citizen, a tornado warning is usually just a tornado warning, regardless of the severity of the wording.

When a strong or violent tornado is approaching, I think it's well established that a person's best chance for survival rests in his or her ability to get below the surface (in the absence of a bonafide tornado shelter), preferably in a basement.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

It seems to me, that a bunker built underground - away from the house - has the best chance of survival. I read somewhere - can't remember at the moment - of a round concrete structure that can be buried with a hatch -on top- that can hold a family of 4-6.

Even if one can safely get to said bunker, time seems to be the pivotal factor. Most people living on the The Plains have basements that can be accessed in a big hurry. I also read somewhere that building contractors can modify a part of the basement to be a tornado safe room. But how may people really take advantage - or have the for sight and extra money - to make their homes with a 'safe room'? One would think that insurance companies would give a break -an incentive - to get people to go the distance. It would be in their best interests as well. I'm sure it would add value to their home - especially when one considers that living/owning a house in an active tornado zone - would be considered above one that didn't have this addition.

My farm house in Storm Lake IA has a cinder-block room that used to be used for storing coal - that is in the basement in the SE corner (originally built in 1880). That building is being refurbished at this time, and I directed the contractor to put a steel door on the coal room so that it could be used as a tornado 'safe room'. Personally, I don't think ANY structure is safe in a EF4-5 tornado; but I want the renters of this building to feel as though they have every advantage that was possible. With more people living in the US/Plains than there were 30 years ago, the potential for more tornado-related deaths must follow the same percentage/increase.

IMO-any new building construction should have a tornado 'safe room'...

 

[Melissa Jablonski]

Sounds great to have a below ground shelter. Unfortunately around the Great Lakes
the water table is too high in a lot of places. When we built our house 4 years ago the well drillers hit water at 4 feet. Of course, the well is deeper but putting a storm cellar in isn't possible. Our crawl space is 4 feet deep but only 2 feet are below ground. I don't think it would help.
Melissa

 

[K Brown]

My view is that what the NWS advises is based on many years of experience, and not just a random decision. I've never had a basement, but it seems like a safe place if you get under an actual support pillar and beam. Common sense would tell me to take extra precautions such as blankets, mattresses, etc.

If someone lives in an area of elevated tornadic activity and has a basement, maybe have some sort of steel-beam cover (maybe constructed similar to a kitchen table) to crawl under. I've never seen a steel-beam kitchen table (LOL), but it sounds sturdy to me!

Meteorology is a science, but I also believe in God. Nothing is going to save you when it's your time to go. Just take the best precautions you can!

 

[Karla Dorman]

This question brings up memories of hearing Gary England, when OKC/Moore got hit by that F-5 (May 3, 1999), saying, "If you want to survive this thing, you need to be below ground."

The NWS always says, "the safest place to be is below ground."

So: again: my question is: why are there so few underground shelters (i.e., basements) in Tornado Alley?!?

Would much rather risk getting buried underground than to be blown away aboveground.

Two walls seperate me from the howler outside. And they're not very thick. Winds get up to 50 mph, the walls start vibrating. Really makes me feel safe. NOT!!

Just my two cents worth ...