CPAPtalk.com

Some musings on tornado risk...

I would hope that everyone posting about how one shouldn't overreact to tornado warnings is also aware that the OP didn't ask us for our judgment on that issue. She asked for ways to ensure that she could be compliant with CPAP while getting her kids to safety. Surely it is up to her to judge whether she is better off staying sleeplessly at home, or going to the shelter.

These things are not solely a matter of logic (nor should they be). Perception of risk is important. If you've been through tornadoes, you have a different view than if you haven't. These storms are unpredictable, and by the time you can see one, it's often too late. If you have small kids and you know you couldn't get everyone out in time if you waited until clear evidence, then you go to the shelter. End of story.

I have been in three tornadoes. They were not fun, they did frightful damage to home and community and people I loved, and I respect that individuals know their limits on what risks they are willing to assume. You grow up in a small town in Tornado Alley, and you are conditioned that if that siren goes off, you get your kids to shelter. Period. All the cold numbers in the world don't trump that.

Last year, I participated in some of the rescue of lost pets after Joplin, MO got hit. I was on the receiving end, not in Joplin, but the pictures were enough to give me flashbacks.

Once your community goes through something like that, you rebuild, but it's awfully hard to get back to the sense of safety you had before. Maybe in 10, 20 years, but not yet.

macewa wrote:If you know who you DME will be, go in and talk with them.

Now I am certain the OP would be better off to STFITH!

I have no problem with people taking extra tornado precautions because of emotional reasons. Emotional reasons are very valid. Just be aware when it's emotion and when it's logic.

I may point out the odds are better staying at home, but if you have an emotional need to go to the shelter, by all means do so. It's not like you're taking a terrible risk by evacuating. Just don't kid yourself that it's safer to go when it really isn't.

By the way, I am talking about going to the shelter every night when there's just a watch. If there's a tornado warning, listen to the warning, figure out where the path of the storm, is, what you have time to do and find a hole to hide in if appropriate. Even in a watch, look at the radar and see where the storms are and whether they're heading for you.

Baprader, I know this wasn't your question, but have you ever considered constructing a shelter in your home? I live in tornado country and I get frightened when I see those swirling weather patterns on television, especially when they're on top of my part of the city.

Texas Tech did some studies of tornado shelters some years back, and I believe you can still order plans from them. We turned a large interior closet into a shelter. To look at it, you'd never know, so you could do it to a bedroom, hallway or garage.

My husband is relatively handy and he built ours himself. I don't remember the exact cost, but it wasn't too bad. You first reinforce the shelter's connection to the floor and ceiling with long bolts. Then every wall is a sandwich of plywood, steel, plywood. Any wall which connects to the shelter wall is also reinforced.

I don't know if this would work for you, but it sure has brought me peace of mind.

As someone who spent time in tornado alley and was conditioned to drive towards the silly things...

If anyone is very worried about storms, contact your local sky warn local group http://skywarn.org/local-skywarn-groups/ and see if they have a community forum where people can get more info about local weather. Some TV stations in Okla (OKC Ch9), Texas and Kansas also run these types of events. Those people can tell you the real risks and how to deal with your local weather better than anyone else. Advice in Kansas will be different than Mississippi so seek local advice.

Being in a car in a bad storm is exceptionally risky and should be left to the nut cases who need to be on the road at that time. By the time the sirens go on, it is too late to drive to a shelter based on my experience and I've had the job to switch the things on.

Most CPAP machines have a "days used more than 4 hours" counter. That is what the insurance company will look in. The machine is not Santa Clause, it doesn't see you when you're sleeping or knows when you're awake, it just knows when your breathing using it.

Frightening Birth of a Tornado

http://www.wimp.com/tornadobirth/

Good move to pull between two cars for protection.

Wonder what happened to the car that drove out of frame?

Night Monkey,

Great video! I live and grew up in So Cal and have never, ever experienced anything quite like that. My heart is still racing thinking about it!! That was amazing, but very scary...

I also wonder what happened to the car that pulled away and went right into the tornado's path.

John