I'm hating life

[okcpulse]

Karried, just look at it from this perspective... the historic mansions that grace the streets of Midtown OKC have been around for close to 100 years, untouched by tornadoes. In my 27 years of of being raised in OKC, I never had to take cover.

I see you on XBOX 360 on occasion, but I usually don't play Halo because I am using the console as a juke box to sing to the babies. I just plug in my iPod and I am good to go. They have grown fond of The Fixx and Sting. Yes, I do sing nursery rhymes, but I am already all too familiar with the melodies from Nick Noggin and Wonder Pets.

[FritterGirl]

I've been an OKCer almost all of my life, save a few post-college years when I deemed it time to travel and world and explore other places to live, which I did.

I grew up "around" tornadoes, or at least, around the possibility of tornadoes. I've been pulled out of bed by parents and thrown hastily in the sunken bathtub to be covered by mattesses (c. 1974). I've been pulled out of a dance recital because "the big one" was getting ready to take a direct hit at McGuinness High School (c. 1981) - that tornado never touched down). I watched from the 21st floor of "The Tower" on NW Expressway when the rain-wrapped May 3rd tornado laid siege to south OKC, west Moore and MWC. I bunkered down in a cold storage room in an Edmond Sonic one week before my wedding date with my now-husband and 8 1/2-months pregnant matron of honor, and listened to the radio as the weather announcer described the 2003 tornado passing right over the condo where I was then living. (long, but very very funny story).

I've succumbed to the "thrill of the moment" more times than I can count - daring to run outside just to see if I could sneak a peek at impending doom when the weathermen said, "take shelter now!"

But, never, never in my life had I ever felt as scared as I did last night when, after being awakened by sirens, did we hear the tv announcer say "I see a lowering at 178th and Penn."

Some would say a measly 3/4-mile is still okay (it struck two neighborhoods down from us). I call that "spittin' distance," and during tornado season, "spittin' distance" does not sit well with this (almost) lifelong Okie!

So, while it passed overhead, in the closet I sat, bunkered down with two dogs, two cats, and other important sundry items. While there, I watched from the corner of the closet through the bathroom window the big blue "flash" that was immediately followed by our electricity going out. Guess whatever "it" was struck a power line about a mile north.

While we weathered things just fine (husband kept an eye on the tv while I wrangled critters and important papers into the closet), I have to admit, this one was just a bit too close for comfort. Even this morning I still feel a bit on the shaken AND stirred side. Maybe I need to take Doug's advice and grab some green beans. Better yet, I might just try a martini next time.

[FRISKY]

Tornado shelters are cheap.

[FritterGirl]

Tornado shelters are cheap.

Define cheap. The minimum I have found is $2,000, and that's the tucked-under-the-car-in-the-garage variety, which I'm not sure suits what our needs are.

I'd love to afford the concrete-rebar-reinforced closet, which are not "cheap." My parents put one in several years ago, and it was estimated at around $17k. It came in a few grand short of that. We could not get any return on our investment on that.

If you've got other/better ideas, I'm all ears!

[Karried]

oh my gosh! Just when I was feeling a little complacent about the tornado last night.. I saw the house on the news... the damage was really bad!

But, the most unbelieveable thing.. is that is my Dentist's house! And we did work on his new Dental office last year.. so we know them. I feel so bad for them..... they have twin boys.. and they looked petrified.

[FFLady]

You know, I wish they wouldn't "test" the sirens on Saturdays...those sirens went off last night and I was asleep, and immediately started dreaming that it was Saturday at noon.
Not until my husband came bursting through the door (he hadn't been watching but had stayed up just in case) did I wake up. I turned on the tv, saw it was more in my sister's hood, called her, he called his Edmond-dwelling parents, and I went to bed, knowing there was nothing I could do.

Not saying I slept much after that, but there was no immediate reason for me to freak out.

[MartzMimic]

Do any of you remember the 1973 Union City tornado? That storm made Gary England a rich man. My grandmother worships him. If he turns out to be the Anti-Christ, we're in deep do-do.

When I was a kid, we had one cellar in our neighborhood. Most of the other families were older. One little old lady had been in a house hit by a tornado when she was younger, and she hit the cellar every time it rained. The lady who owned the cellar was somewhat infirm, so my dad and our neighbor would stand under her carport until the storm got really bad. I remember thinking that the true sign of manhood was being able to stay outside with them.

[Kerry]

My parents put one in several years ago, and it was estimated at around $17k. It came in a few grand short of that. We could not get any return on our investment on that.

Really? How much is being alive worth to you? Not to toot my own horn but I would say that I am worth at least $17K. A reputable person would be worth somewhere north of that.

[FritterGirl]

Really? How much is being alive worth to you? Not to toot my own horn but I would say that I am worth at least $17K. A reputable person would be worth somewhere north of that.

I would think my family is certainly "somewhere north'' of that. But when it's not in the budget, it's not in the budget, which is why we are exploring other options.

FRISKY noted that storm shelters are "cheap." I have yet to find one I would consider "cheap" (and $17k is not "cheap.") $2,500 for another type of shelter is certainly more in line with what we could afford.

[Kerry]

I know this is a serious subject but do you have any idea if you could do it yourself. Really all you need is a rented back hoe, some plywood, concrete, and a building permit. Dig a hole, build a wood box for the forms, and pour the concrete.

Do It Yourself Network has some info on it.
HOME IMPROVEMENT : Safety : Tornadoes: Tornado-Proof Shelters : DIY Network

[OKCisOK4me]

Someboby needs to get that guy on channel 4 a really big cup of coffee and a chill pill. He is just to hyper. He needs to breath and slow down when he talks. You would think this mean ass tornado is going to suck up the whole state.

Hey, my son has ativan wonder if that would work.

I had to stop watching him, he was giving me a headache.

Otis

That would be David Payne you are referring to! I was LMAO when he said "SE of Weatherford is trashed with hail!"

But I'd have to say of all the weather guys on all the stations he is the most egotistical of all of them and very annoying. I worked at a car dealership back in 1999-2000 and he came in to purchase a car. He acted like he was on top of the world!

[BG918]

I have lived in Oklahoma since 1989 and have never been in a tornado. I have been in many "tornado warnings" but never have I seen or been threatened by an actual tornado. The closest experience would probably be May 3rd, 1999, an infamous date for Oklahoman's. The storm was expected to pass over my house in Tulsa but weakened. Since living in the OKC metro (Norman) since 2003 I have never even had to take tornado precautions, not once.

[AAC2005]

I see that this thread has been idle for a while, but can anyone suggest a good storm shelter installation company, or point me to a thread that discusses this topic?

Thanks!

DISREGARD - I opened the topic on the appropriate forum.