More Atlanta vs. Dallas Questions

[legion]

Are basements common in either Atlanta or Dallas?

[hardflex]

not many basements in the Dallas Area. Cant speak for Atlanta

[A930Rocket]

Lots of basements in Atlanta.

[legion]

My tornado-averse wife would like to know what the folks in Dallas do when there is a tornado.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by legion

My tornado-averse wife would like to know what the folks in Dallas do when there is a tornado.

They go outside and look for it and take pictures. Really.

[mattdavis11]

People in DFW don't get too concerned about tornadoes, unless they live in a wobbly box.

[M.D. Holloway]

Never been in a house in the DFW area that had a basement. All slab. Too much ground compression I suppose.

[M.D. Holloway]

DFW is cheaper to live but Atlanta offers a better cultural experience IMO

[74-911]

Originally Posted by legion

My tornado-averse wife would like to know what the folks in Dallas do when there is a tornado.

Basements are rare in all parts of TX for any number of reasons. Storm cellars are fairly common in rural areas and smaller towns. If you live in the typical subdivision, as GH85 said, you go out and take pictures...

Although Dallas/FW area is definitely in Tornado Alley, that area (as much of N. TX) is infamous for monster hail storms.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

DFW is cheaper to live but Atlanta offers a better cultural experience IMO

I agree. I have never seen basements in TX.

We don't worry too much about tornados in Dallas. Our biggest concerns are dodging rattlesnakes and horse manure.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

We don't worry too much about tornados in Dallas. Our biggest concerns are dodging rattlesnakes and horse manure.

That be Jerry Jones ??

[Jim Richards]

When we lived in the Atlanta 'burbs, we didn't have a basement. A cluster of 3 tornados swept through our neighborhood one night, one missing our house but damaging the house next door. We really missed having a basement that night.

[legion]

Assuming that only a backhoe is needed, anyone know what it costs to have a storm shelter put in?

My wife has very few faults and no vices, but one thing she's got to have is a place to go below ground in a storm. I'd like to keep my options open for both cities.

[stomachmonkey]

Yup, no basements. Too hard to dig them. Lot of tough clay and bedrock.

We are at the start of tornado alley so yes you'll get them but they are generally small and do minimal damage, trees, power lines, roof damage. We don't get the freight trains that roll through further N in OK.

As mentioned hail is a bigger issue.

The best way to describe the weather is "biblical".

Critters are more worrisome than tornados. Pretty much everything you encounter has the potential to put a hurtin on you. You get real good at recognizing spiders simply by their web.

If T-Rex size bugs freak you out then don't come here. Was out back with the wife last week, said "oh look, here comes a hummingbird", wrong, it was a grasshopper.

The stretch between me and Lubie is called Copper Canyon. Got its name from all the copperheads that live here. We kill around 6 a summer on my block alone.

Like Mike said, in our area at lest culture is scare. Better in Ft Worth proper. Not a fan of Dallas. It tries too hard to be NE metro like NYC, Chicago, Boston and just does not cut it.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by legion

Assuming that only a backhoe is needed, anyone know what it costs to have a storm shelter put in?

My wife has very few faults and no vices, but one thing she's got to have is a place to go below ground in a storm. I'd like to keep my options open for both cities.

You don't need to go underground. You can get a steel 4 person unit dropped/anchored in your garage.

We had a safe room built in under our circular stair case.

Depending on where you buy in DFW underground could even be out of the question due to flash flooding. Would suck to survive the tornado only to drown in your shelter.

Originally Posted by legion

Assuming that only a backhoe is needed, anyone know what it costs to have a storm shelter put in?

My wife has very few faults and no vices, but one thing she's got to have is a place to go below ground in a storm. I'd like to keep my options open for both cities.

Under $5K

Hillsboro Storm Shelters - Slope Top Shelters

[enzo1]

you might consider something like this..... New Day Tornado Shelters - Tulsa OK | Safe Rooms | Storm Shelters in Tulsa, Oklahoma City OK

[M.D. Holloway]

Not to mention the spiders. Oh the spiders. And the snakes. Golfing today saw two cotton mouths.
And the scorpions, West Nile virus laden skeeters and the chiggers.
At least we have a great football team... Hmmmm well....

[Jim Richards]

Do you Texans have tarantulas?