Hurricane or Tornado

lisar wrote: I saw Hurricane because I can see them coming and leave if necessary.

Kentuckychick replied: This was difficult to answer because honestly I'd hope to experience neither one... but after careful thought I chose Hurricane.

I chose Hurricane because we know where Hurricane's strike and we know the property that will likely be damaged by the storms. So when we buy property in those areas we know that we will likely at some point encounter a hurricane that will damage or destroy our property. Likewise, there are areas of the country that will never ever be affected by Hurricanes. Areas where I know I will be completely safe from the harm a hurricane can do and because of techonology, hurricanes can be detected and people can be warned days or even more than a week before the storm even approaches the land.

With tornadoes you are completely in the dark until one comes and levels your homes and destroys everything in its wake. Tornadoes can happen anywhere at anytime and develop with any bad storm. When there's warning, it's minimal. Most times the warning comes at the last second and by that time it's too late.

So while I'd definitely prefer to never have to experience either one... I'd take the Hurricane over the Tornado anyday.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: I chose Hurricane. I've done those and you know what to expect with one. Tornados are so unpredictable and you only get a little bit of warning before it's on top of you. At least with a hurricane you are given the chance to leave before it hits.

gr33n3y3z replied: We really dont get either bc we always get missed or close to here but if I had to choose it would be a Hurricane but I've seen many water spouts here tho

cameragirl21 replied:
hehe, Andrew was projected to hit Deerfield Beach and instead he hit close to Homestead...Deerfield Beach is nearly 2 hours north of Homestead, at least 1.25-1.5 hours if you're a leadfoot like me. The beaches were evacuated and I remember speaking to this woman who, along with her DH headed out to their friends' home in the Redlands, close to Homestead.
Well, guess what? Their fancy high rise condo on the beach was unscathed but the four of them, her, her dh, her friend and the friend's dh were huddled under a blanket in the closet in the Redlands and she told me she was praying for God to kill her quickly because the storm sounded so scary.
So they don't always know where they'll land but still, I've been thru so many hurricanes that I don't bother with storm shutters or anything anymore, just the basic prep and a lot of prayer.

lisar replied:
If Ike hits there at a cat 5 "you need to leave". I dont care where you live that thing could kill you. Just be careful if he heads your way

cameragirl21 replied:
oh, I know, I wouldn't stay here if Ike is headed right at us, no way. I'm a bit of a nut but not bonafide crazy, I don't think so anyway.

lisar replied:
just checking

mckayleesmom replied: Well...since I don't have a basement..I would say a hurricane. If I had a basement..I would say a tornado..since I have been through those before. We had a couple when I lived in Illinois and me and my ex boyfriend barely made it to the basement when all the windows in his house shattered and half the panneling and shingles were ripped off. Scary. When I got home my mom had a broken arm because the wind picked her up and flew her accross our yard...she was trying to save her plants

I have never been in a hurricane. I will have to get back to you on which I prefer...

Calimama replied: Hurricanes because I've been through a couple.

PrairieMom replied: I think that tornados have a smaller path of destruction, or at least it seems that way because I only hear of them hitting more rural areas. One farm can be completely obliterated, while another just a mile away, or even just across the highway an be just fine.

JulieJ replied: hurricanes you know about days in advance and at least can get out of the way.

amynicole21 replied: Hurricanes - they take FOREVER to get where they are going, so not too many surprises (usually )

HuskerMom replied: I chose hurricane because there's more notice for people to prepare. Tornados just come out of no where. A month or so ago we had a 20% chance of rain one day and it started sprinkling and just an hour later the tornado sirens started going off and one touched down about 4 miles from my house. So you never really know when or where they'll touch down.

redchief replied: I null voted since this is obviously a trick question... Most of the answers seem to prove this theory out.

Most people are saying hurricane because they have advance warning and can leave. The question asked which you prefer. To me that means preference of experiencing. Leaving in advance of a hurricane (of any category) is always wise and proves that responders would just as soon not experience it. Many people don't leave in advance of a tornado because they simply don't have the time.

Finally, and this is quite funny, according to the National Hurricane Center, nearly all land-falling hurricanes spawn tornadoes. Therefore in responding you would prefer to experience a hurricane you are preferring to experience a tornado by default. Right?

Just kidding. I've done hurricanes, and a weak tornado. I don't recommend either experience, so I did null vote. I wouldn't care if I never saw either again in my lifetime.

BAC'sMom replied:
Ed you are so right

I would rather not have to deal with either of them. But living on the Texas Gulf Coast for 40 years I have learned to live with it. Six months out of the year the Gulf of Mexico has my full attention. One thing about a hurricane you can see it coming from hundreds of miles away and with technology you kind of have a idea of where the hurricane will strike. That alone will not make me at ease though. I have had to sit through Celia, Fern and Edith as a small child. And there is no way in h-e-l-l that I will ever do that to my children. That is why we leave, we have to for my children's mental health and the fact that I live on a peninsula and I am 1 mile in from the Gulf. I can replace the house and the contents but I can not replace my children's lifes.

redchief replied:
I watched a story on the Weather Channel about a family in Punta Gorda (Sp?), FL who lived through Charlie. It was a mom and dad and a little girl. The most moving part of the story was when she recounted how idiotic she felt about not leaving during the height of the storm as she looked at her little girl who had just told her she was scared. She said with teary eyes that she couldn't believe she'd risked her life and the life of her child for "a piece of wood." She also swore she'd never do anything like that again.

I was one of a skeleton crew that was left here when Gloria came through here. It was one of the most surreal and scary afternoons of my life.