For the second time in less than a week, the tornado sirens in our town have been going off. I grew up in an area that didn't have tornados, so I am not confident about what to do in these situations. Would someone who lives in a tornado-prone area review me and see what I am missing?

Because the only room in the house on the lower floor that doesn't have windows is the coat closet (which I can't fit in with 3 babies), I have been taking them all into the hallway upstairs (the only other place with no windows). Well, I guess the bathroom upstairs doesn't have windows - would that be better?

I put the babies in boppies, but of course they won't stay there.

I grabbed the diaper bag, but all it has in it are 3 toys, 3 diapers, wipes, and a change of clothing for each baby.

I found a flashlight.

I brought a laundry basket into the hall to put all three babies in in case I had to try and get out of the house will all three at one time.

I put my socks & shoes on.

What else should I be doing?

THANKS!!!

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

You need to be on the LOWEST level possible....even if it has windows...you will survive some cuts from glass.When you say lowest level,is it a basement or first floor?
Becky
SAHM~
Emma,Amber,Ian 8/18/99
Olivia 9/29/00

Our house doesn't have a basement. But we can go down to the first floor I guess. It's a pretty open floor plan, with windows all around. There is one small coat closet under the stairs (maybe 1 foot deep by 2 feet wide). I thought about trying to get in there with all the babies, but it is SO small! I'm not sure we would all fit, especially if my husband (who is a really tall guy) was home at the time.

I worry too because people were complaining on the local news (western Tennessee) on Monday that the sirens didn't give enough warning - they went off and the tornado was there almost instantly. I just don't know how I could get all three downstairs that fast. I was doing good to grab them out of their cribs today and throw them on the floor in the hallway, and gather up everything else (diaper bag, shoes, flashlight, etc). But if downstairs (even with windows) is that much safer, than I will have to find a way.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Here's some info from the CDC website:

At Home
Pick a place in the home where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way. One basic rule is AVOID WINDOWS. An exploding window can injure or kill.

The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If there is no basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet.

For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If possible, cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag, or mattress, and protect your head with anything available--even your hands. Avoid taking shelter where there are heavy objects, such as pianos or refrigerators, on the area of floor that is directly above you. They could fall though the floor if the tornado strikes your house.

Hope this helps.

Michelle

Mom to b,b,g 04/26/02 @ 34w,1d and
b 10/17/05 @ 38w,2d

I agree with the last poster, lowest level possible. are you sure about the closet? would it be easier if you took stuff out during tornado season? my safe area is a coat closet and after removing everything but a battery operated camping lantern, some water and basic baby supplies we fit - and mine are 14 months old.

Susan
Alison, Anna & Morgan
g/g/g Triplets born 1/25/05
at 32 weeks, 2 days

Not to be a complete idiot, but when exactly is tornado season? Obviously we are in it now, but when did it start and when does it end?

Maybe I'll start storing my diaper bag, flashlight, & an old pair of shoes in that closet - a few less things to try and run around and grab!

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

I think tornado season can vary by location but here it starts about now and ends in September/October.

Susan
Alison, Anna & Morgan
g/g/g Triplets born 1/25/05
at 32 weeks, 2 days

Grew up in Oklahoma, so have seen more than my share of tornados...

I don't think the second floor is a good idea, but it sounds like you have few other options without cramming all of you in the coat closet. It's best to be on the lowest floor.

The only thing I'd add to what you're already taking (diaper bag, flashlight) is a radio with batteries, and maybe a small sack of snacks (whatever was out when the weather got bad) and have a jug of water and a small supply of whatever the babies are drinking. If it's formula, just a jar-full or something. The key is that it's just like a fire drill - you DO NOT STOP TO GATHER UP THINGS! Try to have a box/kit somewhere with flashlight, radio, batteries, formula, water, dipes&wipes, etc. that you can grab on the run.

We used to go into the bathroom and cram everyone as close together as possible under pillows and blankets (once even a mattress my dad dragged in there!)

Hey! ARe you still in Oklahoma?? We live close to Tulsa

Jodie

our gifts from above...
GBG.......December 2004
*lots of prayers ~ 31w4d*


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Hi, we live in Kansas which is tornado alley. We have been thru our fair share of tornados. I would definitely recommend being on the lowest floor possible. It sounds like the coat closet is by far our best option. Also, instead of having to get your everyday diaper bag, why don't you have a small one packed that you just leave in the coat closet for emergency. That way you don't have to worry about gathering up all kinds of things. The babies will be enough to collect! If there is enough warning, you could also try to go to a specified shelter. Unfortunately with tornados, there is not alot of warnings. So if you have everything ready in the closet, it will be that much easier.

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

I live in Alabama and we have our fair share of tornadoes too! I am actually preparing for some possible tornadoes this afternoon with the bad weather that is headed our way.

Do you have a bathroom downstairs that you could go to? In our old house, we all got in the bathtub and I pulled a blanket out of the linen closet to cover us since there was a window in there and we had no other options of a safe space. Like the other posters said, I would have an emergency kit already packed and in the safe space. Since I know we are getting bad weather tonight, I just checked our kit and added a few things and checked all of the batteries. One thing I would add is a change of clothes for everyone, b/c you never know what might happen to your house if one hits. Having a laundry basket near you is also an awesome idea to scoop them up and go. Oh! I also have our fireproof, safety deposit box in our safe place with all of our account info., SS cards, some pictures, and a brief history of the kids medical stuff.


Kim
Wife to Ben
Mommy to Zoe, Megan, & Clay
Born 10/05/03 @ 27w6d

We hear DUCK here all the time during storms. DOWN STAIRS, UNDER SOMETHING, CENTER of the building as possible, KEEP away from Windows and doors. There are tornado warnings all around me right now, but not extremely close, and I have seen this on the screen probably 30 times this afternoon.

The lowest level of the house is best, if you can’t get in a closet they say get under a sturdy table or overturn the couch and get under it to protect yourself from flying debris. From the way you are describing your house I would clean everything from the floor of that closet during the spring and summer when the most tornadoes happen and if the sirens go off I would make every attempt at getting in there as possible. Even if that meant the kids were shut in the closet without me knowing they would be safer in there. I wouldn’t worry about comfort as much as safety. Also keep a radio in the closet tuned to a station that you can turn on easy (maybe stuck to the wall easy to reach) so you know when its safe to come out.

We keep an emergency box in our safe room with candles, matches, flashlights, batteries (replaced with fresh ones and the old ones put in the general circulation occasionally even if never used), radio (its one that you wind up), DH said he is going to get some of the flash lights they have out now that you shake and don’t need batteries too so we don’t have to keep as many of them. Also keep crayons and coloring books in the emergency kit. (we have a large basement so we have more room to keep a larger box)

But you most defiantly do not want to stay upstairs even if there are windows downstairs. When you see tornado damage on TV you see the houses with little standing sometimes. The walls that you do see standing are usually the first floor interior walls (think coat closet). So if a tornado did hit your house your upstairs hallway may have no windows but in a matter of seconds it may have not walls or roof either.

OK but now that we have done the scary part I have lived in a tornado prone area all my life and thankfully had very few tornadoes in my life time. Having everything prepared and practicing what you will do, like a fire drill, defiantly takes some of the fear of the storm away, at least for me.

Tasha
Have children afraid of monsters or just looking for a fun kids app? http://www.goawaymonster.com/

Megan,

You have a lot of great advice already. Tornados are caused by hot and cold air meeting and causing the funnel, so it's usually spring when you see the most tornados but sometimes summer and fall, especially if you have unseasonably warm or cool days.

I hope you are doing okay !


Bobbi
BBB 4/27/05
28 weeks 2 days

We go downstairs in the half bath. I keep a box with a whistle (in case we are trapped), flashlight, phone, cell phone and shoes for each girls in case there is broken glass. I live in TN too and it has been a horrible season so far.
Jennifer
ggg, 4

Just a note to tell you we are thinking of everyone.

We are in VA on the TN and KY borders and are under tornado watch until at least 5AM (and have been since about 4 this evening).

Keeping prayers said everyone to be safe tonight--and in the coming days.

Melissa

I just heard today that they are no longer recommending having a mattress over/around you because of the suffocation risks.

HTH,

Jane,
Mom to Abraham, Elijah & Grace, born 11-22-03 at 34w4d

We live on the southern outskirts of Nashville (in Brentwood) about 20 minutes from the area that received the devastation yesterday. It is so scary to think that in a matter of seconds your whole life can be swept away. I think you received alot of good information, do you have the tornado warning sirens that alert you to the possibility of a tornado? Those have become a life saver for alot of people. Hope you are alright today, the sirens went off all yesterday afternoon this can be a scary time, my kids know that when they sound we need to get our shoes on and go to the safe place in our house. We try to do drills several times a year to refresh their memory and keep them on their toes, we always make a game of it and never let them be afraid.
Debbie Roth, mom to bbg 3/8/02

We live in north Alabama, and had two tornado warnings last night. We had some hail, but thankfully, no tornadoes.

One thing I do with my bigger kids is that we all wear our bicycle helments. We have a storm closet under the front stairs (no basements here). I keep it full of quilts, old comforters and pillows. We have flashlights and a radio in there, too. Last night, I got each of us a bottle of water, had my purse, cordless and cell phones. I even brought my laptop in there, so I could see the radar as long as we had power.

Heather, BBBB (two identical, two fraternal) 28 1/2 weeks, now age 18!

bumping another thread in case it may be helpful given all the storms tonight

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

The Jet streams are changing and it is causing "different" tornados. They pop up out of no where killing hundreds then vanish. Read about Joplin MO, if you haven't. Here in MO we have been having other tornados the same. My wife's uncle got pulled out of the BOTTOM of his trailer last week from a tornado, the one that hit Branson, he was in Buffalo.

Don't take tornado's lightly. Tornado's are ripping houses off their foundations. I'm sorry if this scares you, but I have triplets and I am scared also because of the process. The day Joplin got hit I pulled the kids to the crawl space, they were 1.5 years old or so. And I was home alone. Here is what I did after that day;

If you live in a slap talk and friend a neighbor with a basement. If you have a crawlspace do the same, but in case you can't get to the neighbors house you have a few options. I put some old carpet down in the corner of my crawlspace next to the opening. I mounted handles to the door for quick access (flush mount so the kids wouldn't trip on them). I have basic supplies put down there like water, food and a can opener. I had a hard time keeping the kids with me that day, so I brought down the laptop. I put on signing time and they sat there happily. Next time I will bring my Kindle Fire IF I have time because keeping the three of them in the corner is the safest point, two walls and me to hold them.

I had one other occasion where I had little warning. The sirens went off on nap time. I was napping too. There was no warnings on the weather so it scared me. I ran upstairs, carried them down 2 and 1. We got under the stairs in the coat closet. In your home you should figure out what the best places are and make your decision on how critial the timeline is to get there. (Dont take offense to this but if you take a tornado seriously, 3 kids and yourself can fit in a coat closet. But the kids might fuss, have something small to entertain them like a Kindle >).

The last option is what we are looking into now. If you have lots of money you can buy a variety of tornado shelters. Some go in the ground outside, which work for the "good warning" situations http://simplysafestormshelters.com/. They have some that go in your house too made of Kevlar, lots of money http://www2.dupont.com/Stormroom/en_US/. They also have plans to build one yourself http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Home-Safety/Home-Emergencies/how-to-build-a-storm-shelter .

Google around what you need in your area and you will be as safe as you can be. I hope your family stays safe. The most you can do is have the best plan of action you can research and think of. Good luck