Tornado Shelter?

[joenali]

I saw a Tornado Shelter sign on a Bed, Bath and Beyond store in West Seattle yesterday. I was very confused. First, when is there ever tornados in Seattle? And second I've never, ever seen this before. Anyone else?

[jennlin]

you're right on both accounts. we don't get tornadoes, and i've never seen a shelter like that in our area.

[Deleted]

I've never noticed a shelter, but we've had tornados in washington state. I swear there was a mini one yelm or something 2 years ago too.

www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/paststorms/washington10.php

[joenali]

Yes we do have them in Washington, but never in the Seattle area.

[Deleted]

According to the city of Seattle there was one west of sand point in 1962.

www.seattle.gov/emergency/hazards/tornadoes.htm

[joenali]

Ok, but do we really need tornado shelters?

[jennlin]

history of tornadoes in city of seattle: www.seattle.gov/emergency/hazards/tornadoes.htm

[jennlin]

dangit, i was reading that site too long before i clicked post. uw wins.

[mkate710]

That is so random, I wouldn't think of hilly West Seattle as a likely tornado spot... even getting the rare ones we do in western wa, don't they favor flat areas?

There was a small tornado at my grandparents' house in eastern wa when I was a kid. It was terrifying for everyone.

[InBetweenDays]

Not to mention, tornados strike quickly and Seattle doesn't have a system of tornado sirens (that I'm aware of). So who is going to run to the nearest BB&B if a tornado hits?

I grew up in Minnesota and we used to regularly have tornado drills, much like the earthquake drills they have in school here.

[sarack]

that is weird...

[Deleted]

I remember there being a funnel cloud over Silverdale a couple years ago. But I agree we don't need tornado shelters in Washington.

[stretchad]

Sept 4, 2012 10:48:55 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

I grew up in Minnesota and we used to regularly have tornado drills, much like the earthquake drills they have in school here.

Wait a second. They have earthquake drills in schools? :-|
What is one supposed to do in an earthquake besides run around like a chicken with their head cut off? I don't know these things!

[amandasw]

Sept 4, 2012 21:24:11 GMT -5 stretchad said:

Sept 4, 2012 10:48:55 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

I grew up in Minnesota and we used to regularly have tornado drills, much like the earthquake drills they have in school here.

Wait a second. They have earthquake drills in schools?
What is one supposed to do in an earthquake besides run around like a chicken with their head cut off? I don't know these things!

yup, we always had them (grew up here). It really just involved getting under your desk and covering your neck. Although hysterically funny (and ironic) was when there actually was an earthquake when I was in high school, people just looked at each other confused and everyone forgot what to do, lol.

[jennlin]

Sept 4, 2012 21:40:50 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Sept 4, 2012 21:24:11 GMT -5 stretchad said:

Wait a second. They have earthquake drills in schools?
What is one supposed to do in an earthquake besides run around like a chicken with their head cut off? I don't know these things!

yup, we always had them (grew up here). It really just involved getting under your desk and covering your neck. Although hysterically funny (and ironic) was when there actually was an earthquake when I was in high school, people just looked at each other confused and everyone forgot what to do, lol.

this!! when we had an actual earthquake (2001), i guess in some classes the kids jumped on the tables and "surfed"....i wasn't part of the "fun" class haha. and also some teachers even chose not to evacuate because they figured it was over. obvious fail. our school had an earthquake drill once a week for a month after this.