Stormy times...

[Fozzer]

..in the Central and Southern States...>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27183974

I often wonder if any of our U.S. Sim V Members are affected by these Storms, Hurricanes, Tornadoes?

Paul...A slight breeze in my back garden at the moment...

[Hawkeye07]

At this time of year it's more or less just a fact of life. Tornados in the Mid-West are like earthquakes in California or hurricanes on the East Coast. You just go about your business with one ear open. When I lived in Memphis in the early '80's I was taking a nap one afternoon when a smaller sized tornado leap frogged right over our apartment complex. Never knew it until my best friend called to see if I was all right. Said he had heard about it on the local TV news. Found out the next day it had done a bit of damage in the area. Here in Minnesota the authorities are pretty good about warning the residents. Just this last week we had a Tornado Drill which included familiarizing the school children with the procedures to follow at school and at home and they lit off the warning sirens two or three times during the day to make sure they all worked as advertised.

[Fozzer]

It always amazes me that the folks who live in "Tornado Alley" take all these disasters in their stride!

Their property gets flattened, but they just turn around and build it all up, and start all over again!

I could never figure why they don't move to a less dangerous part of the country!... ...!

...or is everywhere dangerous in the USA!

Paul...always watching the news...!

[G.K.]

....it's a bit windy here, nothing to do with the weather though.......

[Steve M]

I spent a lot of time in Kansas when I was young. I remember the creepy feeling when tornado weather was moving in. The temperature was dropping with ominous clouds aproaching and barometric pressure was changing. As dense rolling clouds moved over you there was usually a strange green cast to it. (daytime) Winds picked up quickly and it usually started hailing or raining cold rain. The sirens helped but usually the farmers in rural areas that didn't have sirens already knew what do.

[Webb]

I often wonder if any of our U.S. Sim V Members are affected by these Storms, Hurricanes, Tornadoes?

Florida hasn't been hit by a hurricane in 5 years but our insurance rates keep going up.

[ViperPilot]

That storm blew through here two days ago... once it gets East of the Rockies, it's got the whole of the Great Plains to gather steam and wreak havoc.

The folks living in Tornado Alley are a hardy lot; my thoughts are with them.

[Hawkeye07]

It always amazes me that the folks who live in "Tornado Alley" take all these disasters in their stride!
Their property gets flattened, but they just turn around and build it all up, and start all over again!
I could never figure why they don't move to a less dangerous part of the country!... ...!
...or is everywhere dangerous in the USA!

Paul...always watching the news...!

Paul, it's the same with the people in the flood prone areas like the Red River Valley here on the Minnesota / N. Dakota border. They've been flooded out several times but they stay in that area.

[Jetranger]

Yes, Sir - I may be Dumb , but , I ain't Stupid !!!!

Since I live in T'wornado Allie I've definetly Pre-Pared myself fer those High 300mph+ Winds and Gusts.

I got it together now, took me sum time to Think about how to be prepared fer wind that moment comes

So, with my Video Cameras all set up, and in my proper T'wornado Shelter protector device I'm pre-pared fer da Big One

Heres a few Photo's how I've got my T'wornado shelters all set up, I be waitin, just a matter of time now !

[Fozzer]

Yes, Sir - I may be Dumb , but , I ain't Stupid !!!!

Since I live in T'wornado Allie I've definetly Pre-Pared myself fer those High 300mph+ Winds and Gusts.

I got it together now, took me sum time to Think about how to be prepared fer wind that moment comes

So, with my Video Cameras all set up, and in my proper T'wornado Shelter protector device I'm pre-pared fer da Big One

Heres a few Photo's how I've got my T'wornado shelters all set up, I be waitin, just a matter of time now !

..... ... ... ...!

Well, blow me down!.... ...!


Paul....; ....!

[Apex]

Webb: Homeowners insurance in Florida is very volatile, no telling which way rates will go from year to year, but in general, you're right, it's usually up.

Mine went down quite a bit recently, yeah, down, surprised me (State Farm), 2 years in a row. No claims filed since 1996 (burgary). Going down again next year since I fixed my deductible, of course a rate hike might negate that. Since 2005 a lot of insurance co's stopped doing homeowners insurance in Florida.

I don't know how other insurance co's in FL compare. I was told recently by an insurance agent not to attempt changing companies just to try to save a buck, reason: House is 1954, and even if they underwrite you despite the age, they could cancel after a few years. The same agent told me State Farm was good to be with.

House has been thru every hurricane since 1954 with no damage whatsoever.

Another hurricane thru here is all they need to do another big rate hike.

[Fozzer]

That's something I never thought of.....Insurance Risks!

If you were thinking of buying/building a property in the middle of Tornado Valley, or close to The Gulf of Mexico....

......or on the San Andreas Fault in CA....

Best to get an insurance quote first?... ....!

Paul.....Just Insured my Motor-bike for the next 12 Months....£130 Fully Comprehensive... ...!

[yancovitch]

can one build a tornado proof home?.....mayb a pyramid structure out of bricks....do people have brick house in tornado alley? or are they vulnerable too.....guess a home has to be protected against flying debris not only the wind pressure......

[Fozzer]

can one build a tornado proof home?.....mayb a pyramid structure out of bricks....do people have brick house in tornado alley? or are they vulnerable too.....guess a home has to be protected against flying debris not only the wind pressure......

Its a funny old do...

But when I look at all the destruction and debris created by a Tornado in a USA area of housing, it always appears to be the remains of wooden constructions, and/or mobile homes/caravans!

It is rare to see solid, brick houses!

Paul.

The first lesson:...>>> http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/eft/eft15.htm

[PhantomTweak]

......or on the San Andreas Fault in CA....

Where I grew up, in the Bay Area, our property's eastern edge was the western edge of the San Andreas fault line. Ran right along our property line. We had a few jiggles every now and then but never anything really big. The fence even stayed straight.
Now, I live up in Oregon, the San Andreas is way out to sea. We DO however live withing sight of a bunch of the Cascades volcanoes Shasta, Lassen, The Three Sisters, Mt. McLaughlin, Crater lake, the deepest freshwater lake in the US, I think, is the crater of an dormant volcano. About 25 mi North, as the Aerobat flies It ever decides to wake up, or rather when it decides to wake up, it's gonna make St. Helens look like a firecraker.
Point being, wherever you live, there are going to be natural disasters. All one can do is be as prepared as possible for the worst one can imagine. Not much we can do if one the local volcanoes ever decides to go BOOM, but we have a couple weeks worth of food, water and fuel stored up, survival gear, camping equipment (most of it mil-spec) clothing for cold or hot, arms and ammo, etc etc. All we can do is hunker down and wait for "stuff" to return to whatever normalcy it will after something happens

Great, disaster free day to one and al!
Pat☺