Preparing your flock and your family for tornadoes and other severe weather.

[SnootyHen]

I grew up and still live in the midwest which used to be prime tornado threat country. That being said, when we hear a tornado warning has been issued for our area the first thought is to go outside and check the sky. It's not that we're fearless or even stupid. Having grown up with the threat of tornadoes you learn to appreciate them but not live in fear of them. There have only been a couple of times in my life when we've felt the need to take shelter in the basement. We diligently watch and listen to the weather so we know what the situation is. We will never disregard the danger a tornado represents as we've seen the destruction caused by too many but we won't live in fear either. My storm shelter is properly prepared just in case (hopefully the clothes I've put in there for us still fit! ) I pray that all of you stay weather safe!

We do the same. I lived through a few nasty ones and volunteered with Red Cross in the clean-up and recovery afterwards which allowed me to witness some of the massive destruction. That said, we see these as a part of life and most of the time we're outside looking at the sky and greeting neighbors who are doing the same. If it happens, I am ready, but I also don't take shelter unless we really need to. You get to know when those times are.

 

[LizzzyJo]

We do the same. I lived through a few nasty ones and volunteered with Red Cross in the clean-up and recovery afterwards which allowed me to witness some of the massive destruction. That said, we see these as a part of life and most of the time we're outside looking at the sky and greeting neighbors who are doing the same. If it happens, I am ready, but I also don't take shelter unless we really need to. You get to know when those times are.

My husband (Minnesotan) is outside chatting like you - I (Kentuckian) am in the basement texting him to get down here NOW. lol.

 

[Folly's place]

Here in southern Michigan, tornadoes happen, but not nearly as often as across the middle of the country. the lakes do help! We have a basement, and plan to go there when there's a storm, with our house pets. The horses are outside, and there are too many chickens to bring in, so they have to take their chances.
It's the risks we learn to deal with, or move.
Once I was in a typhoon, and once was enough! No plans to live in hurricane or earthquake country, and wildfires are really terrifying! Never mind living next to a volcano, either...
Mary

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Yes - I agree. I have family in Alabama. Are you talking about the 2011 outbreak? The one with the F5 that SUCKED PEOPLE OUT OF BASEMENTS? I remember that. I would have had nightmares too.

That’s the one. We lived about 10 miles outside Birmingham at the time. It dumped debris in our yard. Horrifying experience and we weren’t in an area that was hit. I know people who lived and worked in Tuscaloosa at the time a lot of them weren’t the same people after it was over.

 

[bikerchix]

The odds of getting hit are actually very low. But for the areas that do get hit it’s devastating. And that’s why we prepare. Just in case it is us this time. Also it’s just kind of normal for us who grew up in an area where tornadoes are common. Personally I don’t understand how people on the West coast cope with earthquakes all the time

here in oklahoma we are coping with tornadoes and earthquakes(and grass fires and floods) it's like living in Revelations

 

[LizzzyJo]

here in oklahoma we are coping with tornadoes and earthquakes(and grass fires and floods) it's like living in Revelations

Don't jinx yourself! You guys are also prone to locusts and dust! That being said, it is beautiful countryside!

 

[black_cat]

Luckily Connecticut isn't exactly the premier location for tornados or other natural disasters.....I can't imagine living somewhere where it's a reasonable fear that the literal actual weather will try to kill you, as opposed to a person with a gun. Hats off to you guys.

 

[alwaystj9]

In Louisiana we have hurricanes, tornados, floods and ice storms. We even had one small earthquake in 2005. Most of it we see headed our way for days in advance, especially as most tornadoes and many floods are hurricane spawn. We hurricane prepped 5 times in 2020. Most shelters don't allow pets. Most cat and dog shelters don't know what to do about chickens. Usually the livestock arenas and racetracks open to farm animals, mostly people bring horses with cattle being driven to high ground or trailered to somewhere out of the expected range. During the 2016 floods it came up so fast I had to go in and swim the goats out and I got a few chickens out, several saved themselves getting on top of the coop. It was pretty horrible.

 

[Sally PB]

Michigan gets snow. Not enough, says hubby. We can get tornadoes, "straight line winds," heavy storms, and (laughable by California standards) earthquakes. Teeny ones. Sometimes it gets hot and humid, but nothing like the south.

I would add to the list of things: camping equipment, or stuff that you might think of as such. A small portable stove that runs on kerosene ("white gas"), canned goods and a can opener, utensils and cookware. We are all so dependent on electricity, think of what you would need to live without it for a few days. Once the storm is past, a tent may make acceptable shelter.

Consider that you might be unconscious. Some ID and any special information about your health may save your life. Names and phone numbers of people to contact for and about you will help the rescue teams link you back to your family.

If you can't find an air horn, a whistle is a good thing to have. Three blasts, pause, three blasts. Then it's obvious that it isn't a random noise, it's a person making that noise.

In really bad scenarios, a gun and ammo might become essential. Not just for self protection, but to put down injured livestock or for culling for food.

 

[alwaystj9]

Michigan gets snow. Not enough, says hubby. We can get tornadoes, "straight line winds," heavy storms, and (laughable by California standards) earthquakes. Teeny ones. Sometimes it gets hot and humid, but nothing like the south.

I would add to the list of things: camping equipment, or stuff that you might think of as such. A small portable stove that runs on kerosene ("white gas"), canned goods and a can opener, utensils and cookware. We are all so dependent on electricity, think of what you would need to live without it for a few days. Once the storm is past, a tent may make acceptable shelter.

Consider that you might be unconscious. Some ID and any special information about your health may save your life. Names and phone numbers of people to contact for and about you will help the rescue teams link you back to your family.

If you can't find an air horn, a whistle is a good thing to have. Three blasts, pause, three blasts. Then it's obvious that it isn't a random noise, it's a person making that noise.

In really bad scenarios, a gun and ammo might become essential. Not just for self protection, but to put down injured livestock or for culling for food.

The rule here is write your ss#, maybe an emergency contact, on the inside of your forearm with a sharpie....and pack extra prescription meds.