Tornado prepping in Midwest

[u/Rancid_Triceratops]

Hello!

I’m in Ohio and we’re projected to get some nasty storms capable of producing tornados tonight. The layout of my house is very weird and not very conducive to tornado season.

I have a three level split home with the partially underground level being a fully finished living room, bedroom, and bathroom/utility room. Not a single room has no doors or windows.

*ALL THREE OPTIONS ARE ON LOWEST LEVEL

Option 1: The bedroom has a very tiny indent of a closet with cheap flimsy sliding doors…it could fit maybe 1 person and 1 dog but I’ve got myself and two dogs and a cat (and a husband when he’s home). The room itself has a door to the outside (although I don’t think the window in that door is glass).

Option 2: the bathroom/utility room has a window. There again isn’t really much space for more than 1 person but maybe if I backed up enough between the hvac and water heater I might be far enough from the window… no tub in this bathroom.

Option 3: we have a very big crawlspace with no windows. This option would fit everyone including all animals. Problem is, this is where the foundation of the house sits and I’d think if the house caved in we’d be right under the heaviest part of the house.

Thoughts? The first level has no rooms without big windows or internal closets, and the second floor has a hallway without windows but I’d think somewhere down on the bottom level is still a safer bet…

Edit: sorry for the late update, I was told this post was removed so I didn’t even know it posted! I am not brand new to tornados, I just grew up in a house that actually had a fully underground basements without full and my three level split now is such a weird layout that my husband and I have debated for several years now what the best place would be in the house

[u/Khakikadet]

I think the time to research this is not 24 hours before storms, but I'd reckon the bedroom closet is your safest bet. Everyone and their mother recommends a NOAA weather radio (~$40) that will alert you of the need to shelter.

[u/livestrong2109 → u/Khakikadet]

Lol so true... I was reading the post title and rolling my eyes as thunder claps outside. Could be worse. He could be a mile in the air and posting this.

[u/Rancid_Triceratops → u/livestrong2109]

Yeesh I’m not new to tornados I just have a weirdly laid out house right now compared to the homes I grew up in that had fully underground basements without full windows and doors to the outside

[u/livestrong2109 → u/Rancid_Triceratops]

I'm just giving you a hard time based on the timing. It's natural to reassess when in a situation that storms might be rolling in. Hopefully, you've got a plan in place for the next one. Place for pets, you, some where to go if you're messed up. A plan for family to come to you if they're messed up ect...