Skip to main content
Phone Number +1 940-370-5991
     
Camelot Apartments in Wichita Falls TX

Where to Go in an Apartment During a Tornado

Living in Texas, the weather is always big and beautiful, from the endless blue skies to the rolling thunderstorms. But that big weather has a downside. Tornadoes are a common hazard in Texas in late spring and early summer. Tornado safety is an important subject often discussed among local Texans. One of the most critical questions when it comes to tornadoes is: where do you go in a tornado if you live in an apartment?
 

Where to Hide from a Tornado in an Apartment

These are the best places to seek shelter in an apartment during a tornado. If a tornado warning is issued while you are living in an apartment, choose the topmost option that you have access to.

Most Tornado-Resistant Areas

  • Basements
  • Ground-floor windowless rooms

Secondary Areas

  • In a windowless bathroom, laying in the bathtub
  • In a windowless closet in the center of your apartment
  • In a bedroom with mattresses over the windows

Local Shelters

  • Local community shelter
  • Windowless interior room in a local shop
a train track running through a field under a cloudy sky

Basements and Ground Floor Windowless Rooms

The most tornado-resistant place to be during a tornado is a basement. This is because tornadoes pick up debris and break windows, but basements are frequently untouched. If your apartment building has a basement laundry or workout space, head there first and share the protected space with your neighbors. Advise other neighbors to join you along the way.

However, basements are not very common in Texas construction. If you have a cellar, or a half-basement, block the upper windows just in case.


Ground Floor Alternative

If there is no basement, a ground-floor interior room without windows or a storage closet is ideal. Ground floors are more secure from tornadoes than upper floors in a tornado. Some apartments will give residents a key to a shared storage area, and this can be an ideal place to use as a shelter until the greatest tornado risk has passed.

a tornado in the middle of a field

Tornado Sheltering in Your Apartment

You can seek shelter in your apartment apartment if you have a ground-floor unit or if your apartment doesn't have a windowless basement or shared space.

The most secure places inside your apartment are windowless bathrooms and closets. You can also use mattresses to provide protection from potential debris.

Bathroom Tornado Shelter

If basements or ground floor options are unavailable, another option for where to shelter from a tornado is in an interior bathroom with no windows. This gives you the full protection of the rest of the building.

In your bathroom a good place to shelter is in the bathtub. Lay a few blankets in the bottom of the bathtub and bring a small pillow. Nestle down so that you are mostly inside the tub and nap, listen to weather updates, or play on your phone.

If you have a larger group, camp out in the inner bathroom together playing card games.

Closet Tornado Shelter

If you don't have an interior bathroom or need a secondary space for more people, closets are the next best place to hide during an apartment tornado warning. Closets also do not have windows and tend to be interior rooms. Clear out clothes if necessary to make room for a small campout.

Bedroom Tornado Shelter

If you don't have a better option and are in a bedroom, you can cover the windows using one or more mattresses. Mattresses can prevent shattered window glass or flying debris from entering the room. Stay close to the center of the building and, if possible, shelter in a closet, even if there is no closet door.

Local Shelters

If you are away from home during the tornado warning or your apartment does not have an interior place to shelter, seek a tornado shelter. Some cities have local shelters, and it's a good idea to know where they are and what they offer before the next tornado. Know your local tornado resources.

If you cannot get to a local shelter or your city doesn't have one, find an interior room in a building nearby. You may be able to ask the staff to shelter with them in a windowless storage area or break room.

a lightning storm over a road in a field

Preparing for Bad Weather

Intense weather is a common hazard in Texas, and it's best to be prepared. Build an emergency kit and keep it handy. 

  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • 2 Gallons of water per person
  • Nonperishable foods like protein bars, granola bars, chips, trail mix, and peanut butter
  • Charged up USB power banks for phones and devices
  • Solar-powered battery charger or USB power bank
  • Extra blankets and sleeping bags
  • A list of emergency phone numbers, resources, and emergency broadcast frequencies
  • A bag of charcoal and a grill lighter

If the power goes out, keep your refrigerator closed as much as possible. Eat your nonperishable foods in your shelter room. Then, eat all perishable foods quickly before they spoil. If the weather clears and your power isn't back, you can use the apartment BBQ grills to cook with the charcoal.

 

Apartments in Wichita Falls

It's important to be able to work with your apartment community during dangerous weather. Help your neighbors and keep in touch with apartment management. If you are looking for an apartment in Wichita Falls, TX, Camelot Apartments provides fantastic customer service.

Testimonials