Severe Weather Risk - 3/9/2009

**Thunder** · 03-10-2009, 02:18 AM

Yeah, I couldn't believe it ripped these storms apart. Usually it pushes them so fast together into a huge squall line.

**Bobby821** · 03-10-2009, 10:51 AM

They just fizzled and OKC area missed out on anything severe as usual. Such a downer. Heres hoping for next time

**Karried** · 03-10-2009, 11:12 AM

Last night was the first time my Ferret heard loud thunder.. lol.. he was looking around and probably thinking 'wth'?

I let him on our bed with us until the storm passed!

Thank God he has always been around music, drums and very loud amps (upstairs)... he probably assumed the kids were rocking out again.

**westsidesooner** · 03-10-2009, 12:40 PM

Not to get OT but since the risk has passed, and I didn't want to start a new thread, here goes.

Karrieds frightened ferret story got me to thinking. Lets say a tornado is heading your way and you only have 5 minutes to take cover. Assuming you don't have a basement. Obviously you get your family in the safest place available. If you have time, or planned ahead you'd then worry about helmets for their heads, steel toed boots, a flashlight, your wallet, a cell phone (good luck getting a signal during a disaster).....all the things you want to have with you if your home is hit. Then what do you do with the animals? We have 2 cats. One of them hates the pet carrier so in an emergency when theres stress involved that'd take to long. And I'm not hunkerin down in a closet with a terrified claw machine. I'm sure several large dogs, or even a frightened ferret could also be a problem in a closet or small bathroom.

What do you do with your animals/pets when a serious storm is heading for your home?

**Karried** · 03-10-2009, 12:47 PM

lol, funny you should ask that.. the last tornados (last month) I left the Dog out to run ( black lab, no way he is coming in the shelter.. he won't go down the stairs - I've tried and tried to drag him down), and I left my kitties in the house.. but my ferret went straight into his carrier and down into the shelter with us! I grabbed his food and water and off we went, twice!

So we take Teddy down in the shelter in his carrier (which is canvas mesh/fabric and zippers/velcro).

Funny thing.....if you've read any of my posts, I am simply Petrified of anything remotely resembling a rodent etc..

My 11 year old and I are sitting in the shelter alone with a flashlight listening intently to the radio and the storm .. Teddy's carrier is on the floor... out of the corner of my eye I see a 'rodent' run across the shelter floor! I'm screaming like a banshee and putting my feet up on the chair... lo and behold, Teddy figured out the zipper and was exploring our shelter! ha,ha.. I laugh at myself now but talk about freaking out - I'm such a dork.

Heavy sigh. It's always interesting at our house. lol

But, it is a hard decision on what to do with the animals. My dog is tagged and has his collar on.. my kitties could survive a few weeks outside probably ( they can hunt ) but the silly ferret is 100% helpless ( they can't survive more than a day or two in the wild.. they don't know how to get food or even water :-( and he's helpless in his cage ... I can't do that to him. He's my baby.

**westsidesooner** · 03-10-2009, 01:14 PM

Yeah, I've picked up on your rodentphobia before. It surprised me when you decided on a ferret. The pics you posted in the pets forum of Teddy are great. How do you feel about squirrels then? Our neighborhood is overrun with them. I used to think they were neat. I was so wrong. Tree rats is all they are.

Why is your dog afraid of the shelter? I can understand being afraid of a carrier/transport to the torture facility device, but whats so spooky about your shelter? Is it underground?

**Karried** · 03-10-2009, 01:19 PM

Yeah, you have to go down about 5 steps straight down.. he won't do it. A few years ago, we tried to carry him down ( he weighs about 90 lbs.. I couldn't push, pull or coax him down).

The cats are smart.. they would probably do fine.. but they run and hide when they hear thunder and the sirens and when you're trying to get to the shelter, you can't find them.

I just can't leave this little guy to fend for himself.

**FritterGirl** · 03-10-2009, 05:19 PM

We turn our master bedroom closet into a shelter during the spring. Along with our "ready kit" (flashlights, batt operated radio, work gloves, extra dog leashes, rain panchos, etc.) and the extra motorcycle helmets, we also throw in two extra kennels - one for the cats (smaller) and one for the 3 dogs (bigger). Neither is the perfect size, but if the storms get too close, we throw everyone in the closet, I hunker down with them, and husband keeps an eye on TV.

Last night one of the cats got out and was out apparently until AFTER the storm came and went. Thank goodness it was all show. I found him in the neighbor's yard after the dogs started alerting to something at about 3 a.m.. He was a bit wet, but no worse for the wear.

Hated to know he was out in it, but he didn't come when I tried to get him back in earlier in the evening, so I guess that's the price he had to pay for staying out.