Around the Neighborhood By Charlie Clark, Licensed Appraiser
Presented by
CASi
Clark Appraisal Services Inc.
Tips for Homeowners Living in Tornado Alley
It's that time of year again when we all wish we had prairie dog holes to go into sometimes. This is the stormiest time of year, though it seems anymore that any given day of any season there's liable to be a dark cloud with a tail dropping down in Southwestern Oklahoma. I'm not pushing any theories on global warming, all I know is that the weather was not always this way around the neighborhood.
Again, just as a sky and Weather Channel watcher, 2008 appears to be having a higher than normal number of tornadoes -- and destructive ones at that.
Here are a few tips most folks residing in Southwest Oklahoma know or have some variation on.
A good rule of thumb I picked up volunteering with the Boy Scouts, that certainly applies to homeowners and renters is "Be prepared." In these parts, flooding can happen near some of the larger creeks, but it tends not to be as big an issue as wind, whether straight line, downbursts or tornados.
If there is a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service:
1. Batten down the hatches. Put away lawn chairs on the patio, and anything loose that might blow around & be destroyed or cause damage to your home.
2. Keep the vehicle gassed & ready to roll if needed.
3. If you do not have a safe room or cellar, be ready to set up in an interior bathroom or hall. It's also good to know where the nearest community shelter is located. Check with the Civil Defense office for a list. Know the best route to get there. Also, if it applies to your household, know whether or not they allow pets.
4. Have cat carriers and dog leashes ready in order to secure any pets, if you do have to leave or just to get them corralled into the hallway.
5. If it's bedtime, and there is dangerous weather possible, do like my uncle who was a fire captain at the old Central Station: Have clothes & shoes & a rain jacket ready to jump into fast. You don't want to waste time looking for the right outfit. I also keep a little fanny pack (well, not too little if it's going around my fanny) hanging on the bedroom doorknob, with my wallet, keys, cell phone, etc in it. Again, it's a quick grab.
6. Keep handy a working flashlight, and battery powered radio (preset to a station that carries local weather).
7. Another good thing to have is a weather band radio that picks up direct reports from NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). Radio Shack or any electronics store will carry these. I've also seen them in some of our local grocery stores. From $29 on up. Some look like regular radios. I prefer the handheld, battery powered style, like a walkie talkie.
8. There's safety in knowledge. For a good visual in real time (I have them saved on my "Favorites" list for a quick click), check out the two following sites online: