I'm so tired of threats of bad weather. I live in the south and in a converted bus and well...it's scary! Went through a flash flood in 09 and lost a lot. I was terrified watching the water rise within seconds. Those people in Oklahoma have my sympathy however, if I lived there I would definitely have an underground shelter or make friends with someone who had one! Also, would not send kids to a school without one...risk is too great..imo.
Weather can be pretty temperamental here in Australia. Queensland suffers the most, fairly large scale flash floods, and at the same time you've got massive fires wiping out rural areas in Victoria. Scary stuff.
Here the whole country is being flooded due to ongoing rainfall since April. Also, it has been the coldest May ever. I agree about the weird non-existence of safe rooms for children in the Oklahoma "tornado alley", this surprised me a lot. Why are you living in a converted bus? This sounds like quite an alternative lifestyle.
It has been cold and wet in Chicago as well. Chicago had extensive flooding a few weeks ago. My next door neighbor and dad had minor flooding, but our sump pump had little or no usage and we got no flooding.
My in-laws live 8 miles away from the Moore OK tornado.
Basements are rare in Oklahoma because of the geology of the area.
Your Valentine... Yes, it's quite the alternative lifestyle. Some applaud it and others are aghast. I have lived this way for nearly 8 years with two grandsons. I consider myself a youngish hip grandmother ...lol. I chose to do this as it affords me certain freedom. I don't have to stress and work as hard and can devote a lot of time to these kids. I traveled for the first two years and homeschooled the oldest,...younger boy was a toddler and really hasn't known any other life. He was 5 and sitting here with me one day when he suddenly exclaimed "hey! we reaaally live in a bus..a real bus!" Cracked me up. I am proud to say they both are A students...very intelligent and driven to realize their dreams. Added bonus is the sense of humor cultivated with the lifestyle...LOL. Unbelievable the things experienced and seen in campgrounds and on the road. I highly recommend this lifestyle to anyone who finds themselves in financial bind. We make campfires regularly and explore nature a lot...our dining table is a picnic table outside. It's a converted school bus and I found it on Ebay. Furthermore, not that you wanted this much info...I was married to a professional who made over half a mil per year for 14 years... I'm far more content now than I was in the fancy days. Hahaha...both boys know more about Queen than most people and in fact, the younger kid can tell you the artist of so many songs played on radio. The other day we were in a store and he stopped me and said listen... Its Queen! They were playing DSMN... then the Stones...then Barry White, then Bee Gees...and he called all correctly. The only thing he argued for a year about is that Deacy turned to selling tractors after Freddies death... I still laugh when I see "John Deere"
My friends thought I'd gone mad when I moved into this bus however, they now see the point of it all. It's a fun and functional way of life when on a budget. Interesting too is that the families I've seen who live this way are close and actually know who their children are.
Sounds very cool, Missreclusive: ) Not for me because I am a security freak but I can see the advantages. I have so much respect for people who live their own way, you can write a book about your life some day:-)