If you live in Kansas or another tornado-prone area, do schools, churches,

[raccoon]

stores, etc., have basements too, as well as the houses?

[patrice]

1. Yes.

Not having a basement in whatever structure is un-usual in this state.

[BOSSHOG]

2. My in laws live in Northern Kansas

and they have a very large and very comfortable full basement in their house. And the big Catholic Church in town has a basement as well.

[damntexdem]

11. When I lived there, mobile-home parks were supposed to have storm shelters.

But many didn't -- including one where several residents were killed by a tornado.

[ComerPerro]

3. most do, but some don't. I don't have a basement

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I have never taught in a school with a basement

The schools I attended didn't have basements either. But almost every house I have lived in has had a basement.

[ComerPerro]

7. into the hallways, duck and cover, eh?

[Hobarticus]

14. That's about it...

Take a book with you, to cover your head.

Sit with your back against the wall, pull your knees up, and put your head down. Hold your book over your head and neck.

Shh, no talking.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. yep

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. No not always

In schools, we go to the hallways that have no windows.

[flamin lib]

5. Dallas/Ft Worth checking in here.

No basements to speak of here in any building unless it's a commercial parking garage. The reason people north of us have basements is largely because of the freeze depth. In the northern states pipes must be so deep to prevent freezing that another foot or two and you have a basement. Here the expense of such excavation isn't necessary. Some newer homes have "storm rooms" that are good for 300 mph winds, but it's also an extra cost option that almost nobody thinks of.

Anybody can hide in a basement, it takes a real man to face a tornado . . .

[damntexdem]

12. I've also been told that the soil here doesn't allow basements.

In any case, I'd prefer being a fake man to facing a tornado. In fact, since my house has no basement, I need some instructions on how to be an unreal man, if that will keep me from facing a twister. ;-)

[Hangingon]

17. I grew up in Dallas

and only 1 house on the block had a basement. We thought it was cool. The uncle and aunt with a farm had a storm cellar that was neat.

[Blue_Roses]

18. ...

"Anybody can hide in a basement, it takes a real man to face a tornado . . ."


:spray:

All-rightey now...that's right, just keep telling yourself that...

[TlalocW]

8. I think I lived in one of the few houses in my small Kansas town

that didn't have a basement. Plus we were right on the edge of town - backyard butted up against a large wheatfield. We used to have to go over to my Grandma's house, which had a basement when we had a tornado warning/alert - all except Dad. He normally was in bed in his t-shirt and underwear reading the newspaper by 8 so he'd never go with us. :)

TlalocW

[triguy46]

9. Kansas, yes; Oklahoma, no.

I've spent my life in Kansas and Oklahoma. In Kansas, basements are commonplace if not universal in residential housing. In Oklahoma, the existence of a basement is a reason to NOT buy a given house. The difference is the soil. In Oklahoma, the clay content is high, water doesn't drain, basements fill with water. Schools may or may not have basements, most do not.

However, with all the glamour of storm chasing, who needs a basement when we're all out in our pickups chasing the storms?

[Scout1071]

10. No, not always. I don't think I've ever been in a basement of a

school or church. But, schools generally have assisgned secure areas. Inner hallways away from windows, etc.

I live in an apartment right now, so no basement. But, we do have a secure area connecting my building and the next that totally enclosed. I would feel safe in there.

[Joe Fields]

13. Some areas do, and some don't. Depends on the type of soil

that is in the community. In some areas of Kansas the soil is not conducive for building basements.

[TX-RAT]

15. Many of us have our own storm shelters.

Mines under my Garage, sleeps 6, plus water and MRE's. Not everybody is as lucky.

[flamin lib]

16. Several mentions of soil types in why no basements.

Soils in Texas and Oklahoma are expansive, ie, they grow and shrink with water content. Some places worse than others. That makes it more complicated and expensive to build a basement but it can be done just like for foundations.

Water intrusion isn't the issue either as all basements suffer that possibility because they're below ground and even rain water soaking into the soil remains next to the basement for quite a long time.

It still comes down to freeze depth. If you've got to have all water into and out of the house 3-4 feet deep adding a basement is not that much more expensive--it's almost free living space. Here in Dallas 6 inches is all that's required.

Hey! I'm talking water pipes here!

[uppityperson]

20. Northern states you have to get foundation below frost line.

As long as you have to dig down 3-4-5 ft to get the foundation down to soil that doesn't freeze in the winter, why not go another couple and have a basement. It is a good place to keep cool in the summer, store potatoes in the winter, hide in in tornados. I have memories of having grandparents over for a sleep-in during tornado season as a child. Littlest kid got put into the doll carriage, rest of us bundled into blankets on the floor. Then, when the kids leave home you have money to fix it up for another decent living space (upsets the kids but key, all the money went into feeding/clothing/etcing thm)