Are there tornado shelters in Villages

[sswitenki]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??

[vintageogauge]

The bottom photo is what happened to some villas in Sunset Pointe during the 2/2/07 tornado. They say to go in a bathroom that has no exterior walls if you have one. No one in TV died from the 07 tornado but lots and lots of damage.

[Stu from NYC]

We have two good sized walk in closets, figure that is the safest place in our house

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We have two good sized walk in closets, figure that is the safest place in our house

Only if all 4 walls are interior walls.

In one of our bedrooms, the closet is against the outer wall of the house. In the other bedroom, the closet is in the bathroom, between the bedroom and the toilet/shower area. That room would be the safest room in our house. The other bathroom *would* normally be the next safest, except it has a solar tube and I'm guessing we'd just end up trapped instead of secure.

[Topspinmo]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??

Interior closet in cinder block or concrete frame CYV where I going to bunker down if and when one come directly over head. On good note most tornadoes ������ are cat 1’s down here, but if it come directly over you it’s still tornado it just don’t wipe everything off the slabs and suck up asphalt. Like they do in Oklahoma. Under ground the only safe place there.

[Kenswing]

Only if all 4 walls are interior walls.

In one of our bedrooms, the closet is against the outer wall of the house. In the other bedroom, the closet is in the bathroom, between the bedroom and the toilet/shower area. That room would be the safest room in our house. The other bathroom *would* normally be the next safest, except it has a solar tube and I'm guessing we'd just end up trapped instead of secure.
I think if I was in a manufactured home I would run for something more solid as soon as I heard the Tornado Warning. An interior bathroom does you no good if your house is airborne.

[vintageogauge]

Florida tornado's do lift things up including cars. More photos from 07 Sunset Pointe.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I think if I was in a manufactured home I would run for something more solid as soon as I heard the Tornado Warning. An interior bathroom does you no good if your house is airborne.

If something more solid was in running distance you betcha I'd run for it. Unfortunately, the closest "more solid" structure to my house is the Orange Blossom Hills Country Club - at the highest elevation in the Villages, with a big honking top-heavy watertower planted in its back yard.

I think, given those particular circumstances, I'd probably be better off taking my chances staying put.

[Bogie Shooter]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??

Don't know which county you live in but, here is info for Sumter. (No, the rec centers are not shelters)
Shelters | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://sumtercountyfl.gov/1109/Shelters)

[Stu from NYC]

Only if all 4 walls are interior walls.

In one of our bedrooms, the closet is against the outer wall of the house. In the other bedroom, the closet is in the bathroom, between the bedroom and the toilet/shower area. That room would be the safest room in our house. The other bathroom *would* normally be the next safest, except it has a solar tube and I'm guessing we'd just end up trapped instead of secure.

They are so guess the closet will be my fort. Will also make it my man cave in case I have to spend some time in it.

[NotGolfer]

As others said...no, we don't have those...not sure if any communities do unless it's a mobile home park. Generally the weather comes too quickly to run anywhere, anyway. When we first moved her it was a tad concerning since we had basements before. NOW we just go with it and pay attention to the weather news. If something seemed imminent, then we'd go to our inside closet.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

They are so guess the closet will be my fort. Will also make it my man cave in case I have to spend some time in it.

Even if you don't make it your man cave - keep an empty bucket/pail, a gallon of water, flashlight, and couple packs of cheese & peanutbutter crackers (or MREs if you're into that kind of thing) near the closet door, outside of the closet. Our closet is actually in the bathroom, so we keep that all in that empty bucket on on the bathroom counter.

If anything happens, you now have food, water, a light source and a toilet to last you a couple of days, long enough to dig your way out if necessary. Keep the phone charged, if you have a laptop or tablet, load up some books on them and keep those charged as well. Bring'em all with you and you'll have something to "do" while you're stuck in there til the storm's over even if the power goes out.

Sincerely -
Someone who's lived through 58 years of Nor'easters.

[Velvet]

Average length of a tornado is 10 minutes. Digging out may take longer. In my inner closet I have a shovel and work shoes, gardening gloves and a heavy table that could hold roof collapse to get under. Use it to store items on under normal circumstances. Flashlight, drinking water and charged phone. I have considered installing a small (fridge sized) tornado shelter for a few thousand dollars but my uncle who lived in TV 30 plus years, my parents also in TV 20 plus years never had a tornado problem.

[twoplanekid]

As I am not going to sleep all night in a closet, I decided to install a hurricane rated window in the only window in the smaller third bedroom of our Holly. As the window faces a poured concrete house, that house should block most debris from hitting the window and all other sides of this bedroom are protected by other rooms. I was also concerned about where to go when I first purchased here and ask questions in this old 2015 thread.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/helter-skelter-where-take-shelter-170732/

[Stu from NYC]

Even if you don't make it your man cave - keep an empty bucket/pail, a gallon of water, flashlight, and couple packs of cheese & peanutbutter crackers (or MREs if you're into that kind of thing) near the closet door, outside of the closet. Our closet is actually in the bathroom, so we keep that all in that empty bucket on on the bathroom counter.

If anything happens, you now have food, water, a light source and a toilet to last you a couple of days, long enough to dig your way out if necessary. Keep the phone charged, if you have a laptop or tablet, load up some books on them and keep those charged as well. Bring'em all with you and you'll have something to "do" while you're stuck in there til the storm's over even if the power goes out.

Sincerely -
Someone who's lived through 58 years of Nor'easters.

Thanks for the info

[EdFNJ]

Even if you don't make it your man cave - keep an empty bucket/pail, a gallon of water, flashlight, and couple packs of cheese & peanutbutter crackers (or MREs if you're into that kind of thing) near the closet door, outside of the closet. Our closet is actually in the bathroom, so we keep that all in that empty bucket on on the bathroom counter.

If anything happens, you now have food, water, a light source and a toilet to last you a couple of days, long enough to dig your way out if necessary. Keep the phone charged, if you have a laptop or tablet, load up some books on them and keep those charged as well. Bring'em all with you and you'll have something to "do" while you're stuck in there til the storm's over even if the power goes out.

Sincerely -
Someone who's lived through 58 years of Nor'easters.




You realize, worse case you could end up in OZ. Make sure you have your special shoes. with you. :)

[Annie66]

I'm curious for the structural engineers out there. We have a frame house with an interior hallway that can be closed off to the rest of the house. The interior walls are constructed with metal studs instead of wooden ones. Is there a big difference in the vertical strength of the wood studs versus metal or vice versa?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Only if all 4 walls are interior walls.

In one of our bedrooms, the closet is against the outer wall of the house. In the other bedroom, the closet is in the bathroom, between the bedroom and the toilet/shower area. That room would be the safest room in our house. The other bathroom *would* normally be the next safest, except it has a solar tube and I'm guessing we'd just end up trapped instead of secure.

I'm having a debate with myself over this. I have a walk in closet and one wall faces the garage so I guess that's an inside wall. But our laundry room has three interior walls and one that faces the garage but also has two doors.

I'm thinking that the laundry room might be easier to escape from with the two doors. It also has a sink that could be used as a toilet in case we're trapped. I have all of our hurricane supplies stored in the laundry room.

Am I wrong or is the walk in closet with only one door and no sink a better spot?

[stadry]

not a structural engineer but, impo, insignificant difference re pullout, shear, or compressive in residential const,,, absent below-grade shelter, conc & steel reinforced cmu cubby in garage would be my opt in

[La lamy]

Don't know which county you live in but, here is info for Sumter. (No, the rec centers are not shelters)
Shelters | Sumter County, FL - Official Website (https://sumtercountyfl.gov/1109/Shelters)

So disappointed to hear rec centers are not available for shelter, but this link is very useful. Thanks.

[davem4616]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??


we have a large walk-in closet that is a distance from an exterior wall that we consider to be our 'go to place' in the event of hurricanes or tornados

[Davelinda91]

So if a hurricane is forecasted to come up through central Florida and possibly pass through the TV there are no open shelters? I find That hard to believe with all the rec centers and safe places in the area.

[Nucky]

So disappointed to hear rec centers are not available for shelter, but this link is very useful. Thanks.

When Irma was about a day away from us in The Villages The Paradise Recreational Center was Opened as a Shelter. At that time we had a Doggie so that ruled out that place as a possibility. I don't blame them for that. It was nice that they offered the building to those without animals.

The biggest problem even with a week's advanced notice would be where do you evacuate to an area that isn't suffering from COVID? There are over 4000 Manufactured Homes just in the Villages not counting the surrounding area. Where do you stuff all those people in they need to bail out?

It was a tough decision but I chose a Manufactured Home because for about 30 previous years there were no major weather events in Lady Lake. These guesstimations :1rotfl: are from my memory of an investigation I made about 5 years ago in regard to weather. We move in and everything changes. So it's all our fault. I feel better now that I owned that. :1rotfl:

[MandoMan]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??

On YouTube you can find videos about building tornado shelters of wood, bolted into the slab. This could be done in a larger walk-in closet, for example. But they take a lot of wood and cost quite a bit. Fun project, though.

Constructing a Wood Tornado Shelter (1 of 6) - YouTube (https://youtu.be/pXAL53W95B4)

[OhioBuckeye]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??
Do we have Tornado shelters, yes, they’re called your bathroom!

[Stu from NYC]

Do we have Tornado shelters, yes, they’re called your bathroom!

Bathroom has windows so thinking not so safe.

[Stu from NYC]

I'm having a debate with myself over this. I have a walk in closet and one wall faces the garage so I guess that's an inside wall. But our laundry room has three interior walls and one that faces the garage but also has two doors.

I'm thinking that the laundry room might be easier to escape from with the two doors. It also has a sink that could be used as a toilet in case we're trapped. I have all of our hurricane supplies stored in the laundry room.

Am I wrong or is the walk in closet with only one door and no sink a better spot?

Might be better than our walk in closets. Two ways out and a source of water.

[twoplanekid]

The issue with bathrooms might be mirrors shattering and then pieces of glass being tossed around to cut people. I wanted a room where it would be comfortable to stay for a while during a tornado watch and or a hurricane. As I stated in 2015, it would be helpful to have someone provide better information on where to shelter in TV houses that many times have the same basic floor plan.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

During the tornado here I sustained a lot of damage but the lucky part for me was , I woke up quick and ran to the bathroom, as the whole house felt like it was as coming down and then it was gone and then I realized I was standing in the glass shower . The house had lots of damage but I considered myself a lucky man

[raynan]

If it's a hurricane you have time to go to a shelter. If it's a tornado you won't have time to leave the house so you have to have a plan within your home. We have a Gardenia and will use my closet after I dig out the mess in there.

[LuvtheVillages]

So if a hurricane is forecasted to come up through central Florida and possibly pass through the TV there are no open shelters? I find That hard to believe with all the rec centers and safe places in the area.

First of all, a hurricane is very different from a tornado, which is the topic of this thread. With a tornado, you won't have time to travel to a shelter. Find the safest place in your home.

For a hurricane: A dozen or so years ago the building codes were greatly increased. If you have a newer home, it will be the safest place for you to stay. During Irma, the only homes to suffer damage were in the historic side. For an example of the enhanced building code, go look at your garage door. See all the steel reinforcement? That garage door will not blow away. Same with the rest of your home.

If a hurricane comes, and if you have an older home, Wildwood has an emergency shelter at the Community Center on Powell Road. You have to take your own blankets, pillows, food, meds, etc. You will be crowded in with lots of Wildwood residents. And you will have to park your car in the open field.

[Nucky]

Any concern about COVID?

[Bogie Shooter]

So if a hurricane is forecasted to come up through central Florida and possibly pass through the TV there are no open shelters? I find That hard to believe with all the rec centers and safe places in the area.

Don't take anyone's word for it on here if you find it hard to believe.
Call here;
Customer Service Center
Phone: 352-753-4508 • Fax: 352-751-3936
Email Customer Service
Carrie Duckett: Carrie.Duckett@districtgov.org

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I would suggest that you keep glo-sticks/glow-sticks in your hunker down area. The event may happen at night and who knows if there will be electricity at that time. I also have glo-sticks/glow-sticks in our cars for obvious reasons. They are cheap, easily obtainable and
have no expiration date.

[vintageogauge]

The issue with bathrooms might be mirrors shattering and then pieces of glass being tossed around to cut people. I wanted a room where it would be comfortable to stay for a while during a tornado watch and or a hurricane. As I stated in 2015, it would be helpful to have someone provide better information on where to shelter in TV houses that many times have the same basic floor plan.

During the 07 tornado a gentleman on Golden Ridge sustained serious injuries from the mirror in his bathroom where he was taking shelter.

[Curtisbwp]

We are pretty new and this is first time I even thought about it. We have a tornado warning and live in smaller 2bd home in Lady Lake. Unlike MidWest, we don’t have basement to run for shelter. We don’t have interior rooms. People just head to closet ? Are rec centers tornado shelters??:shocked::pray::pray: advise??

When i grew up in Boston there were "civil Defence" shelters every where. Not now. Today shelters and bunkers are only for the Very rich..Russia has bumkers to protect millions and millions of citizens.

[Chatbrat]

If you are really worried about a tornado, build a safe room in your garage, precast concrete & steel and anchored to the garage floor- hope you're a wake and able to get in it before the storm hits-

we will just get into a closet off the master bedroom- if we can get out of bed --when the weather alert goes off

[twoplanekid]

First of all, a hurricane is very different from a tornado, which is the topic of this thread. With a tornado, you won't have time to travel to a shelter. Find the safest place in your home.

For a hurricane: A dozen or so years ago the building codes were greatly increased. If you have a newer home, it will be the safest place for you to stay. During Irma, the only homes to suffer damage were in the historic side. For an example of the enhanced building code, go look at your garage door. See all the steel reinforcement? That garage door will not blow away. Same with the rest of your home.

If a hurricane comes, and if you have an older home, Wildwood has an emergency shelter at the Community Center on Powell Road. You have to take your own blankets, pillows, food, meds, etc. You will be crowded in with lots of Wildwood residents. And you will have to park your car in the open field.

Agree, however hurricanes can and do spawn tornadoes. So, I stay in the same room in the house prepared for both.

[davephan]

If you are really worried about a tornado, build a safe room in your garage, precast concrete & steel and anchored to the garage floor- hope you're a wake and able to get in it before the storm hits-

we will just get into a closet off the master bedroom- if we can get out of bed --when the weather alert goes off

I've thought about the idea of building a safe room after we move from the north where we have a basement, to Florida, where we won't have a basement. You need to have the space in your home to build a safe room, about the size of a walk in closet. I've heard that the safe rooms cost about $10K to $15K, which isn't much compared to the value of saving your life, if it came down to that!

I'm not sure why glow sticks are even mentioned. Many batteries have a shelf life of about 10 years. You could have several LED lanterns and many extra batteries. The time to buy those materials is long before the hurricane or storms hit, not wait until the last possible minute, as is depicted on the TV news stories where the stores are packed with customers in a mad craze to buy things shortly before every hurricane.

404 Not Found (http://https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2007-07-14-0707120338-story.html)

[yankygrl]

The Community Center in Wildwood on 301 is a SPECIAL NEEDS SHELTER and you need to be pre-cleared to go there in an emergency. Yes you have to bring all supplies, you get a cot. I know this as I am a volunteer for MRC who cover that shelter if it were to open.

[yankygrl]

The rec. centers are not designated shelters nor are the schools. This was decided after Irma and the other hurricanes came through the area in the last 2 seasons.

[E Cascade]

We used to live in Illinois and were told if there was a warning to open doors and windows and get into a shelter (basement, etc). We were told to open all doors/windows so the vacuum caused would let the air pressure change and your house would not be destroyed. has anyone else ever heard of that?

[gadaboutgal]

"when this theory was actually put to the test Researchers found it didn't hold up. Leaving windows open actually caused the force of the tornado to push up on the roof of the house, while the gusts of the twister lifted the roof. Open windows and doors, in other words, resulted in an airborne roof"
Should You Open Your Windows During a Tornado? | HowStuffWorks (https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/open-windows-during-tornado.html)

[Arl]

I am here almost 17 years only one tornado came trough. If you have a weather radio have the fire department set it up for you because when it says Sumter County it probably isn’t The Villages. It will usually tell you The Villages not Sumter County. Hope this helps you.

[OhioBuckeye]

Bathroom has windows so thinking not so safe.

I have 3 bathrooms & only one has glass blocks. Haven’t you heard that bathtubs are the best place in your homes to be safe at. The only other place to be is a closet! Where would you suggest to go to in your home?

[twoplanekid]

Bedroom #2 is the safe room
The one window in #2 was upgraded to a hurricane window.
Our exterior walls are concrete block.
The adjacent house is poured concrete and would block all direct window/wall strikes on that side/bedroom #2.
Can exit both through the window and to foyer/main entry
Second bathroom is very close to bedroom #2!
Can sleep through it all on the queen size bed rather than in a bath tub.
Tornadoes here are not the much stronger EF4 or 5

[LLamers]

Be sure to check the ceiling if using a walk-in closet! Just walk in and look up - if there is a trap door to access the crawl space, then the closet isn't safe. In many houses the safest place would the second bathroom if it has no windows. Supplies can be stored under the sink. As for the mirror - not sure, perhaps include a roll of duct tape in your supplies and tape the mirror to hold it together? Time would be one question and pattern for tape another - just a thought.

[OhioBuckeye]

I have 3 bathrooms & only one has glass blocks. Haven’t you heard that bathtubs are the best place in your homes to be safe at. The only other place to be is a closet! Where would you suggest to go to in your home?

Don’t take me wrong Stuart but you told me that bathroom weren’t safe because bathroom have windows but you never said where we should go if caught in a tornado in your home?

[Chatbrat]

All homes in TV are basically the same as far as 3 bed room designers are concerned:

I believe the safest spot in a Begonia is the inside master bedroom closet, it has 3 interior walls and a pocket door, next choice the laundry room, two interior walls & two doors

[Spikearoni]

Bedroom #2 is the safe room
The one window in #2 was upgraded to a hurricane window.
Our exterior walls are concrete block.
The adjacent house is poured concrete and would block all direct window/wall strikes on that side/bedroom #2.
Can exit both through the window and to foyer/main entry
Second bathroom is very close to bedroom #2!
Can sleep through it all on the queen size bed rather than in a bath tub.
Tornadoes here are not the much stronger EF4 or 5

Aren't windows in homes built after 2013 upgraded hurricane windows? If not, who constructed yours?

[Chatbrat]

BIG difference between hurricane force winds and a tornado--a real tornado will shred almost any structure in TV, and when a tornado is spotted you will not have any time to get to a supposedly safe structure outside of your house

Guess no one here has seen pictures of structures cleanly sweep off their foundations

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Might be better than our walk in closets. Two ways out and a source of water.

I guess the debate is whether the two ways out are more important than the structural strength of a wall versus a door.

[bowlingal]

DO NOT forget a battery operated radio

[twoplanekid]

BIG difference between hurricane force winds and a tornado--a real tornado will shred almost any structure in TV, and when a tornado is spotted you will not have any time to get to a supposedly safe structure outside of your house

Guess no one here has seen pictures of structures cleanly sweep off their foundations

According to the data, most tornadoes in Florida are EF0 through EF2 with a very few exceptions such as the EF3 in 2007 that hit parts of The Villages. Note that an EF2 tornado has winds of 113 – 157 mph and a Category 4 hurricane winds are 130-156 mph.

Tornadoes in Florida since 1950 | tallahassee.com (https://data.tallahassee.com/tornado-archive/)

Along the coast, hurricane rated windows are required but not in TV so far as I am aware. Out house was built in late 2013 and did not have hurricane rated windows.

The Florida Building Code (FBC) requires windows to be impact-resistant or protected if located within one mile of the coast where the wind speed is 110 mph or greater. -> http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/publications/Fact_Sheets_0307/WindowSystems061506revised.pdf

[seara1214]

Sounds like a good idea about the hurricane proof window. In our master bath we have shelving to the ceiling for storage. Not a good idea to stay there.

[Stu from NYC]

I guess the debate is whether the two ways out are more important than the structural strength of a wall versus a door.

Hopefully we will never have to find out.

[Velvet]

Place a sledge hammer inside your safe room, then you’ll have an exit out.

[mulligan]

IMHO, being in a "safe room" hiding from a tornado is a futile exercise. If the tornado rips the roof off ( a fairly common occurrence), you're screwed anyway.

[TimeForChange]

Any concern about COVID?

Only if you bring it.

[TimeForChange]

Except for my time in the military I have lived in the South all my life and I'm 74. Lived in AL, TX, GA and FL. I have been in tornado Country the entire time. Actually had a house damaged in TX in the 80's. With doppler radar today it is entirely different. If we are under a watch I stay alert. If we are under a warning the best place to get if you do not have a basement is your bathroom. If you hear it coming then lie down in the shower or tub.