Cross Breeds

Do apartments in Fort Worth, Texas have tornado shelters or where do you go?

I'm considering moving from Southern California to Fort Worth, Texas and I'm concerned about Tornados. I have a cat and will be most likely moving into an apartment because of costs. Do all apartment complexes have a group underground shelter for when they have tornado warnings? Regarding being a Californian, I'm aware of earthquakes as an issue but once you even FEEL are usually years apart. I've lived here for 10 years and I've only really felt anything more than 3 times. Meanwhile, I here tornados are a high-risk "only-a-matter-of-time" there. So, in my own book, tornados are a LOT more dangerous.

Public Comments

1. No shelters, you just hope you don't get blown away. There are tornado survival tips you can find online. Seriously, how worried were you about earthquakes in California? From my experience of living in both states people are more worried about what they don't know. Californians think tornadoes are scary and Texans think earthquakes are scary.
2. Yes at least the apartments I've stayed in
3. Once you are used to it you don't pay much attention to tornadoes. There are a few safety measures, but it is not a big deal. A tornado is only dangerous if it hits you. Most are misses. Very few people have storm cellars any more.
4. theres hardly ANY underground shelters in texas. Texas has solid rock about 3 feet under the surface and makes for building underground shelters and basments very difficult. Tornadoes are not a HUGE problem in DFW; it is at the bottom of tornado alley and we get only about 4 o 5 funnels that touch ground a year and only a few that cause extensive damage (nothing like you would see in the further north midwest). Its not really something you plan your life or living area around. I have always lived in a bottom apartment or known my first floor neighbors very well. Try to get a first floor apartment and if you can't get a first floor apt, make friends with your neighbors and should a storm come, ask if you can chill with them until it passes. should there be a tornado warning that threatens your area the best place (regardless of house or apartment) to go is a closet or bathroom along an inside wall. The bath tub I have been told is the safest. Grab a mattress and place it on top of you. Definitely stay away from outside walls, windows and mirrors. The main thing I would be worried about is hail, almost every storm that comes through brings hail (thunder storm season is from amrch to october) So I would probably look for an apartment with either a carport or garage. Like I said though, it is probably something you will never encounter. I have lived in central DFW all my life, and have never been affected or had any damage done to a home due to a tornado. They have come with in 6 miles of my parents house and in the 26 years that they lived here have never seen a tornado. If you do encounter one, you will have plenty of time to prepare (unlike an earthquake, lol), as they typically come with thunder storms and hail, you will have a few hours advance and the news will say tornado watch/warning; a watch means a funnel cloud is apossible, a warning means funnel clouds have been spotted and the potential for touch down is greater. If you can afford a house I would buy one anyways instead of an apartment, it will still probably be less than what you are paying now for a mortage/ rent and you can sell it for a profit later in life.