when you have a tornado bearing down on you, you don't have time to pack up the entire family and head to wal-mart.

true but another trailer is not the answer. Any ditch would be better.

Not true. This was no surprise storm. They had been predicting this outbreak for days. They had the outbreak timed down to the hours (4 pm to 7 pm). No excuse other than ignorance.

I hope when areas rebuilds, there is consideration for design in both building and land use that takes in to consideration these weather events that occur.

Please watch : cool it

and youtube

Masanobu Fukuoka's Natural Farming, One Straw Revolution.
and there is many proven designs in architecture that would minimize area damage in both building and city function.

prayers to those affected

lol Consider-it, that's really hilarious. You tell me I'm disgusting for even thinking that these people could have avoided their unfortunate deaths

...and then suggest a way for people to avoid their unfortunate deaths.

That's rich.

journal - how sad that you find this a place to condemn those who have died. My heartfelt sympathies to the families of all who were hurt or killed. How horrific for this entire family to be killed.

JournalJournal - Tornadoes are not like hurricanes. You can't predict exactly where they're going to strike and the path they're going to take once they touch down. They're highly unpredictable. The people in this area were likely told that a storm system with the potential of tornadoes (which are very common in the Midwest, and they probably hear that warning a lot) was headed in their general direction, but couldn't have been told that a tornado (or a series of them) was going to hit their town. By the time you see it coming, it's more dangerous to try to leave than to stay in your home.

While I wouldn't live in a mobile home in the middle of a tornado-prone area (I'm fortunate enough to have other options), these people may not have had any other choice. Maybe that's all they could afford. Houses aren't cheap.

So that's my input. While you're certainly entitled to your opinion, there are certain times where it's a lot better to just keep it to yourself. This would be one of those times.

Tornadoes are not hurricanes. You don't get tons of notice they're coming, unfortunately. Often, you only have a matter of a few minutes to take cover. That's just not much time, especially with three little ones.
And, just because they predicted a storm DOES NOT mean they predicted any one of these tornadoes. This storm stretched across many states. I live in the path of this storm and no, you don't take cover just because a big storm with possible tornadoes come through. If you live in the Midwest, that would mean you'd be taking cover for just about every storm for 8 months out of the year. No one does that, it is illogical and paranoid.
Blaming people for dying in a tornado makes no sense. How many people do you know that would willingly do that?
This isn't about being dumb, this is about a natural disaster that cost people lives. Nothing more. Maybe getting off your computer and getting out into the real world would be good for you.

Have you ever been in a tornado? or been close to one?, you don't have time to think much less get to walmart or somewhere. They just fall out of the sky, form before you have a chance to do anything. Yes you have tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings and if you live in a mobile home you need to get out. But, when one is spotted you have minutes or even seconds to do something and when you live in the rural area you are a long way from a department store. I live in Northwest Alabama and never had one of those monsters to fall out of the sky toward me and I hope never will, please pray for all the people involved in this terrible disaster and pray for us in the spring. It seems like it is starting early and will be a bad one.

It also might help you to understand that when a tornado touches down, first of all, meteorologists can't easily confirm this off their data right their on the spot. Also, there is no way to predict where the tornado will move to, how big it is or how long it will last. So, the sirens go off for the entire county as soon as a funnel cloud or tornado is believed to be spotted - which could be next to your house or several cities away.

An entire family gone. . .just like that. Can it get anymore heartbreaking than that? I can't begin to imagine what these families are going through. Nature happens, but it's still unbelievable sometimes. Rest in sweet, sweet peace, Babcock family. Sending prayers and heartfelt wishes to all of the families both lost and found as a result of this horrific storm. So, so sad.

Hopefully when the area rebuilds, the community will help install a storm shelter for trailer parks.

@Kitmao Ever watch the weather? They can predict when a storm is going to have tornadoes in it days in advance. Even if there's a small chance for a tornado, a watch is issued. As soon as that watch is issued (and you live in a trailer) you need to seek shelter immediately. Don't wait until the warning is issued.

I wouldn't want to head to Walmart with a bunch of small kids and spend hours there every time they issue a tornado watch. 99% of the time nothing happens, and there are dozens of tornado watches and even warnings here every year.

Mike - read what I wrote. They cannot predict an actual tornado. They can predict a possibility of tornadoes.
Dragging three little kids to a shelter every time a storm with a tornado watch comes through is ridiculous and I bet you wouldn't even do it.
Did you also know that tornado watches can last for hours? Somehow I don't see anyone ever dragging kids out to a shelter for hours on end during every storm that has a tornado watch. You know, because in your own words a watch is issued even if there is a small chance for a tornado.
I don't get my toddler up from a nap just because there is a watch and drag her to the basement, and why would I be so different than the mother with young ones in a mobile home? Oh wait, because I must be one of the only people on this board that doesn't pretend I'd do things I wouldn't actually do.

It totally disgusts me to see anything other than postive comments in a situation like this, where so many innocent children were left without parents or children taken away. Here, is a time all of us, should come together to show compassion and sympathy for people who are hurting right now, regardless of where or what they live in. Just because you live in a home, doesn't mean it can't be reduced to rubble in a storm like these, or just because you live in a trailer, you'll be a victim. Even though you can predict storm cells, you can't predict the path of a tornado. Even one that is on the ground may skip around, or even lift up and drop back down.

My deepest condolences to those in this area who lost someone dear. I live in a hurricane prone area and I know, the people in these states sent help to us. I hope we can return the favor. And please, forgive the mean spirited peoples comments on this blog. Ignorance has no boundries.

Prayers go out to everyone effected by all these tornados. No one but the tornado is to blame. It is such a sad thing about this little girl. But she is in heaven with the rest of her family now. Rest in peace.

All I have to say is my heart breaks for the family. I can not imagaine loosing everyone at once. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

On another note none of us know what was said on their news cast systems unless we were there. We have no idea how long they had. Like many of you have said tornados are very unpredictable, as are many storms, hurricans etc. It is so sad that in the last several years so many storms, hurricanes, tsunamies, tornados, and other devastations have taken so many lives.

journaljournal;

And the rest of you arm chair experts, Shut the F**K up! Tornado's aren't like hurricanes you don't have days or weeks notice of them forming and their movements are high UN-predictable. Your Walmart suggestion is laughable. In Joplin 10 died in the Walmart that was completely destroyed by the May, 2011 tornado. ST. John's hospital was a steel re-enforced concrete structure that was also destroyed losing the two top floors and some of the patients sucked out windows. And so you know, the May, 2011 Joplin storm tore a 13 mile long, 1 mile wide path through the city, and leveled every structure in it's path, frame, steel frame, stone, brick or concrete. It didn't matter, with wind speeds above 250 and a generated low pressure zone of 11 in the vortex, nothing made by man would have survived. 164 people were killed by the storm and over 900 injured, Oh and not a single mobile home park got hit.

Plans are a wonderful thing, when you have time to put them into action.When tornado's come after dark, thing get sketchy real fast. Save your opinions for your own family. Until you've been there, you don't have a clue. The fact that you can use the tragic death of a tiny little girl to climb on your soap boxes, is absolutely disgusting.

My most profound condolences to the families effected by this latest rash of storms. May they find comfort in whatever way they choose.

The whole family is back together, and in a much nicer place!

Nicodemus and to all the other people who would question the wisdom of not risking your life in a tornado I say: No, I will not shut up, or diminish in anyway the sad consequences that come from not heeding the clear and obvious warnings that come before a major outbreak of any weather.

This family did not have to die. This family very well have survived had they heeded the warnings the way countless families in Indiana and Kentucky did. When you consider that these storms effected a dozen states and destroyed entire communities, the fact that we did not have hundreds dead speaks to the dedication and wisdom of meteorologists who stayed on top of the storm, tracking them at state, city and even street level for hours on Leap Day.

I was not the only one who dragged my kids to the basement. In Church today, people in my community shared their experiences: A grandmother dragged her grandchildren to the basement. A nurse in a nursing home toiled for hours to get all the patients in her ward into tornado safe areas. A translator in the hospital helped assist as many patients as she could until the clinic itself closed hours before the storm to give employees enough time escape the tornados.

Government offices closed. Mail delivery was halted. Schools let out early or even held students back when it appeared that they would be bussing them home through severe weather.

There was enough warning for them.

How much warning did people need to take this storm seriously? Why were so many other people prepared and these people were not? What's better, dragging your children to the department store for no reason? Or risking their lives on the floor of a trailer?

This is the saddest story. My sympathies to those in the family who are left. They have suffered a devastating loss.

Very sad story....There are not too expensive options available....I hope more folks take the time to look and prepare.....This particular website is about outside in the ground pre-fab shelters.

"At prices ranging from $2000 to $8000, these shelters are an inexpensive way to protect life when dangerous storms and other conditions can occur."

"These shelter are made to withstand tornadoe strength winds and projectile impacts. They will provide protection for people when conditions exceed those that typical houses can withstand."

"Installed costs run from about $2,000 (for a small concrete in-ground shelter) to over $14,000 for a large in-home shelter with custom finishing."

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Foundations/prefabricated-storm-shelter

Sad, sad, sad. I was so hoping she would live. As for going to Walmart, the one in Murphy, North Carolina took a hard hit on this storm. I would NOT want to be inside a Walmart during a tornado. Just because they are big, does not mean they are safer.

Just so everyone knows, we had DAYS of notice of these storms. I live 30 miles away and they had plenty of notice to get out of a trailer. They were breaking in on news coverage ALL DAY LONG.

I feel horribly sad that this family died, but they did have LOTS AND LOTS of notice that we would have a widespread outbreak of severe weather on the 29th. My husband's law firm closed two hours early, schools let out early. Everyone knew.

quote from Kitmao:

"They cannot predict an actual tornado. They can predict a possibility of tornadoes."

That's like saying "they can't predict snow, they can only predict the possibility of snow." Which is...predicting snow. Idiot. Of course they can predict tornadoes, and do all the time. I don't think JournalJournal was being disrespectful at all; he was pointing out that people need to be better prepared for things like this.

Good lord.
They knew there were going to be tornadoes, that is why the National Weather Service issued a freaking TORCON 10 warning, which means that there is a 100% chance that there will be a tornado. No ifs, no maybes, there WILL be a tornado.

I'd venture to say that all of these deaths in this outbreak were preventable. Everyone had ample warning time, and everyone knew that there were going to be tornadoes.

Journal,

I have read a lot of different facts on this board, some contradict each other. I don't know the whole story, I wasn't there.

I think many people are reacting to your tone, your choice of words (ignorant), and your total lack of compassion or empathy.

Nicodemus1946 was right. You seem to see this only as an opportunity to climb onto your soapbox and berate all these people who lost their lives in this horrible disaster. Hindsight is 20/20.

You have a smug tone that is quite repulsive. Your mistake-free life must be something you're very proud of. I've noticed that people with your attitude love to get onto these boards to tell the rest of us how you wouldn't have screwed up like this, and how only fools were hurt or killed in this storm. Really though, all you're doing is trying to appear superior, I bet you don't often get that chance. Because you are not.

my heart goes out to the families who have suffered through this awful storm. I know what it is to lose loved ones at the same time. You are living within a tornado in your life that is spinning you and all you want is to go back to before it happened. Hold on to the ones you love, show them your heart and heal together.

The only thing else I would say is why pray? God doesn't listen, he never has. If he cared or would do something then these things would not happen at all. Children wouldn't get cancer, and tornadoes wouldn't take away the people we love. Instead, look to your living loved ones and draw strength and comfort from each other.

The companies that develop these mobile home park should be required by law to build storm shelters that are large enough to hold the population of the trailer park. These trailers are nothing but death traps when these lines of severe thunderstorms come through spawning tornadoes. It would not be a huge expense or take up much land to build an underground storm shelter that could keep the residents of the trailer park safe until the storm passes. This does not need to be anything very elaborate as it would only need to house the people for a short period of time while the storm moves through the immediate area. This is not a lot to ask to avoid tragedies like this one that wiped out this entire family and killed and injured many more.

there weren't any long term (24 hour) warnings for where the worst of the tornados hit. I've done storm chasing and the reality is tornados can hit with little or no warning, they will spawn out of a single scattered storm in a matter of minutes and as soon as any warning is issued people are dead and homes are leveled. There are still areas of the country that if you don't have your TV on or radio, you will never know a storm is coming, much less a tornado. Two generations are now dead, a wal mart wouldn't have saved them, a storm shelter or a ditch.....maybe outlawing mobile homes can stop some of the deaths, steel framed and secured to a foundation would make them safer than a regular home.

Well, I sincerely hope then that people will be able to see past the tone and see the message. It really is too bad that everyone in this family died. Saying it was a preventable tragedy is not smug or repulsive.

It's the truth. The truth does not sin, but it makes people grumpy, doesn't it?

RwEvans: I was 15 minutes from where the worst of the tornadoes hit. I don't know what you're talking about. People here have satellite, cable, internet and cellphones. Even in a trailer park. Even if they didn't, having all the kids come home early from school would have been a hint.

No matter how it happened, or what warnings, or what ever the case maybe- human lives were taken. People are dead. Have enough respect for the dead to not speak ill of them.

Mike in Delrey...What color is the sky in your world? Green, obviously. Good gosh, EVERYBODY can afford a $2000 storm shelter. Right??? That's chump change. You have that in your wallet for heaven's sake. Are you channeling Marie Antoinette or are you really that clueless?

Journal- You can't see what people are trying to say to you because all that seems to really matter to you is that you force your "expert" opinion of how to handle a natural disaster down everybodys throat. You may not mean to but your holier than thou attitude seems very self righteous and highly disrespectful to those that lost their lives and the family and friends that survived. I lived in Nebraska for many years as a child and there were dozens of tornado watches etc.. that ended up being nothing people prepared the best they could but the didn't run screaming for shelter either. Kids are often sent home from school when no tornado comes near. The suggestions of shelters being built seems to be an excellent idea. How about you put some effort into seeing that your community and it's members have any and all protective shelters that you and others can contribute to, fund raise for, help build etc.. rather then run your mouth after the fact?? Sound like a plan journal?? May not be feasible in every trailer park but you'd think in parts of the country that a very prone to natural disasters would WANT to build any protective areas that they could. But I guess nobody needs to save a space for journal and family cause this individual knows everything cause he's got satellite, cable, internet and cellphones. Journal sincerely hopes people see past the tone of his/her? message.?? If you really gave a crap about it Journal you never would have your stupid condescending preachy, holier than thou post!!!! Whats done is done. These people are gone!!! Show some respect!!!! You put your 2 cents in so maybe it's time for you to leave it alone and go spew your intelligent opinions on another story. And have a nice day now, you hear!!

I didn't say the most important thing becasue I let journal distract me. I am very saddened by the deaths of this family. I send my sympathy to the surving family and friends as well as to all those effected by this storm. God bless you and keep you safe. Wish you all the best in rebuilding your lives and homes. Any body know if there are any funds set up to help out the victims in this disaster??

I don't think it takes an "expert opinion" to determine that, after two days of the local news telling you to take cover, you shouldn't be hanging out in a mobile home. You are literally safer in a ditch. Anyone who lives in a mobile home should know this.

all this bitching about mobile homes; if the people could afford to live elsewhere they would; instead, bow your heads and say a prayer, for the dead and injured and say, that God it was not me or my family; nature is a powerful force , that must be respected and reckoned with.

How hearbreaking for the grandparents. To lose the entire family is such a sad event.

This isn't about Politics, it's about the force of Mother Nature.

My condolences to their loved ones...

Journal, Pheonix;

The weather service CAN NOT say with certainty if there will be tornado's or where. These warnings you feel so reliable are anything but. They are getting better. But they are by no means absolute. Joplin had had similar warnings weeks before May, nothing happened. They have had warnings since, nothing happened. I have two sons and their families in Joplin. I was in town two hours after the May tornado struck. The so called days of warning were actually three minutes. T-h-r-e-e m-i-n-u-t-e-s. Not hours, not days and certainly not weeks.

You talk like predicting these storms is the same as hurricanes, and we both know that's nonsense. Their was a severe thunderstorm warning issued, but, the tornado struck before a warning could be issued or the sirens activated, they came on as the tornado marched through town and had been on the ground for 5 miles. Some advanced warning.

And Maple23string, Your the worst sort of leftist douche bag. Be careful what you say about small children, yours or one you love could be the next. Karma's a bitch and I suspect so are you.

I can't imagine anything more horrible for grandparents than losing their entire family. I really wish trailer parks would be required to have on-site tornado shelters.

mobile home parks should have bunkers for everyone to congregate to in case of storms, I've been thinking americans need more places to congregate in the flesh in general, think about it, how many places can you go to and just see other people without there being pressure to spend money and move along. I've thought of this after seeing the public library posting signs to keep homeless/jobless people from hanging out on their grounds. you can't even hang out at the frickin library. It's like all people do is go out spend money and go home and hide, and we wonder why the powers that be run roughshod over us, completely isolated and divided as we are

How very sad. My heart goes out to the family and friends for their loss. And too, to the family who live and died going through the torndado. It's a feeling you never want to go through. My thoughts and prayers with all you are enduring these storms. God bless you.

Nico, isn't the general advice for those living in mobile homes to seek shelter during any severe weather, especially severe thunderstorms?
They may have not heeded the Torcon10, but they sure as @!$%# should have listened to the severe storm warning.

"My guess is the parents of this innocent baby wouldn't even take his call." Leave the politics out of this. If you bothered to read the article, the toddler's parents were also killed.

RIP, Angel.

sad news, but some of these comments are worse

First to all of you who say mobile home parks should have shelters, in a way you're right. Except that even in a regular home you aren't really safe if a tornado drops down on you. If i lived in a trailer park I would get together with my neighbors and build one.

Second, as for the warnings and preparing, since no one knows where a tornado will strike, it's hard to prepare except to get underground.

Third, to the poster who says when given warnings it's hard to always take your little ones to safety I say BS. I grew up in the Texas Panhandle. We had a lot of tornados. My father and his friends for together and dug and built a cellar that we all could fit in. I remember sitting in that shelter for hours every spring. Any time a warning was issued the kids were sent first while the parents sat out and listened. But they were close by and could get in at any time.

What happened to all these families is tragic. Telling someone to 'prepare' or 'go somewhere else' is preposterous. Many have nowhere else to go. To be honest the only solution is to have a shelter on or close to your property. It's unfortunate that 'tornado alley' just happens to be in a part of the country where basements aren't the norm..

My condolences go out to all the families that were impacted. I can't imagine anything worse that to lose your entire family.

no marilee- we should be spending it on stopping global warming which has caused these deadly weather events - blame bush and the republicans for denying and stalling any progress in controlling this destructive path we are on

sorry to hear the kid died. Sometimes the dragon wins.

The government is about spending Millions and MILLONS, and mor MILLIONS for change come this year right? How about change for the way people are living in this country namely, what about the Global Change that is going one. Do you see the STRORM ? NO you see , Government, not Change.

One whole family dead, how very sad. I don't know a lot about tornadoes but it might be a good idea to make it mandatory for homes to be built with a basement, in areas that are prone to tornadoes. Of course, some people might need some financial help but I have seen money wasted on less important things. Certainly, saving lives would be more than worth it.

Would building the homes from more solid materials (like bricks and steel) make a difference in a tornado?I come from a hurricane region, so pardon my ignorance on tornadoes.

Well Journal, how do you get anything done? You, being in that area, must spend three hours a day in the Walmart bathroom. It must be pretty big if it can hold the whole county.

Good lord, why is everyone giving this journal dude a hard time? Fact is, he's right. You need to decide if a couple of hours of inconvenience is worth your life, if you live in a trailer. A trailer is a deathtrap in a tornado, and various different doppler radar and other instruments are available online to watch storms approach. If you see a particularly threatening cell approaching, even if there is no warning issued, get out and get somewhere safe. Personally, I wouldn't choose a Wal-mart, because they're usually of tilt-up construction and have a nasty tendency to collapse like a house of cards in tornadoes, and large flat-roofed structures are not at all safe in a tornado.

And personally, if I lived in a trailer in this area of the country, I'd find a way to create some sort of shelter. Yeah, I know, not everyone can afford a prefab storm shelter. I'd dig my own if I had to. A five-foot deep hole with a cover made of studs and two-by-fours would be better than a trailer in a tornado.

Sorry, I have to agree with Journal. I live in Indy and if southern Indiana's warnings were anything like ours they had plenty of time to prepare. By no means am I saying the family is at fault, but we knew days in advance that there was a terrible storm headed our way. Not only that, but we had our first round in the late morning. By looking at that, and knowing that there was more to come, it would have been evidence enough for me. Indianapolis schools either let out early or kept the kids there later, in order for the warnings to pass. We didn't even get hit with any tornadoes in the city or outlying areas.

People are right, we get tornado watches all the time here and sometimes it becomes a bit redundant. However, once a warning is issued you do take shelter. You can easily turn on the tv or listen to a weather radio and they will tell you the predicted path. If you are anywhere near that path, its common sense to take shelter or go elsewhere should you live in an unstable home.

What happened is a tragedy, but hopefully all of us can take it into consideration when we decide not to be inconvenienced by heading to safer ground.

Well Journal, how do you get anything done? You, being in that area, must spend three hours a day in the Walmart bathroom. It must be pretty big if it can hold the whole county.

I know it's a shock for you to know but... we don't get tornado warnings every day. ^_^

I took shelter at 3 pm and I came out of shelter at 6 pm when the all clear was given.

This may not be the last outbreak this season. I have a list of people near me who have basements in their homes or apartments, to take shelter in for the next time. I'm making sure that more people that I love have tornado plans and that they know they can call me and I'll be sure to bring extra water (blankets and pillows if it's over night). It'll be like a party with games and food and stuff. Just because we're taking shelter doesn't' mean it has to be a terrifying misery-fest. I can't help the entire community but I'll be sure to keep my friends and family safe BEFORE the next tornado outbreak.

Thanks for asking!

I have to agree with Journal here. I live in Oklahoma and have been in and around tornadoes my whole life. There is plenty of notice given now days of severe weather and tornadoes for families to take proper safety precautions.

How much are those plastic tornado shelters? I think I would try to save for one if I had a mobile home. i think you can "do it yourself" for around $3,000. Expecially if I lived where tornados are popular...

I have lived in tornado alley for most of my life---yes things are getting better....and they can say that this storm may have the possibility of tornado's....but that is like saying that a hurricane can come on land between Florida and New York. So you expect everybody to leave that area because the storm may land in that huge area? The same with tornado's a storm that may have tornado's in it can spread hundreds of miles across many states so anybody who lives in these areas are supposed to spend days in a shelter? I have seen where you have minutes to get to a shelter and where the warning systems barely even have time to blow. My home town had a EF3 tornado strike it and the sirens blew 10 sec before the tornado touched ground this storm DID NOT seem like it would have tornado's in it. That said yes they had plenty of warning but JOURNAL JOURNAL have you ever seen the destruction one of these do up close and personal? I have I have seen it where it wipes out a whole block of houses then on the next street hit one home and miss the next two and hit the next three but leave another one with no damage but a few shingles off of the roof but then the house next to that one is leveled. I have seen it totally destroy a Church but leave the Bible on the pulpit untouched, I have seen it drive 2x4's through trees and not hurt the tress, and totally pluck chickens with out hurting the chicken. So if you think that they can predict these storms days in advance then think again.

My heart goes out to this entire family and their loved ones... What a horrible tragedy... :(

This is just heartbreaking. May this sweet baby rest in peace. :(

You are better off outside lying in a ditch than in a trailer. FEMA offers grants for the construction of shelters at your home. a NOAA radio is something everyone should have and if your local community does not believe in outdoor warning sirens throw a fit and demand that they be installed! Contact your local Office of Emergency Management and register for Code Red as well. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure our community is protected but we can not force the community to take the steps they need, that is up to you. If your community is not protected hold those in authority responsible. City council members are typically the ones who turn down purposals for new mitigation and prepardness actions because they would rather spend the money for say improvments to their golf course. You elect these people and the money they spend is yours so hold them accountable. We can yell and scream and demand all we want and just end up getting fired. Help us help you!

I live in the area and I am so saddened by this story and all of the others. I do think that there was warning that there COULD be severe weather, but honestly, we are bombarded by so many false warnings, that we get complacent. I did. And I got very, very lucky. This family paid the ultimate price. I'm saddened by the tone that the comments above have taken.

Those of you that want to DO something and can afford to, can make a donation to The Salvation Army: Donate $10 to the Salvation Army by texting “HOOSIER” to 80888. This is NOT an ad. I do not advertise and I understand the rules of this board. This is a special plea for this disaster area the the survivors. Please to not collapse or remove my post. And thanks to anyone who can or will help. All of the families in the area appreciate the warm thoughts, prayers (if you pray), and money (if you can) that are being sent!!!!

That is true we do tend to become complacent until something like this reminds us of the danger.

How sad, how very sad. I can only begin to walk in the grand dad's shoes. There is one lesson that we may all take from these yearly tragedies. All of the survivors, when interviewed say, " I can always rebuild or replace the house or trailer, but there is no replacing the lives that were lost." The lesson might just be if you have had a "falling-out" with a loved one and, for whatever reason, stopped talking you may just want to reconsider that. This thing we call "life"is not only short but it can be gone in a flash.

I have posted that about 20 years ago I was working with a piece of paper and my # 1 pencil. I had sketched out a support system for trailers so that they might withstand wind speeds up to 180 mph. The supposition was that with a system of triangulation of interior steel, ( that would have to be done in the factory during production), some added fittings onto that, a series of guy-wires, anchors, and concrete; a trailer would stay fixed. This looked good so I built a design model. I was able to find a fellow willing to test it in the State University where they had a wind tunnel as part of their engineering department of study. With some changes the darn thing worked at wind speeds up to 180mph. I then thought that the final variable would be the soil composition in any given part of the country. Wrong, very wrong. The final variable is the added cost to the factory production.

I had assumed that people choose to buy or live in a trailer over say a "track home" because it is less expensive. That was an assumption that I could also test. I spent several of my weekends going around and talking with folks who lived in trailers. I met a lot of really nice and interesting folks, drank a hell of a lot of coffee, enjoyed many a nice meal and learned that it was about the money in about 90% of the folks I spoke with. This caused me to try and figure out how much more the steel would add to the cost of the trailer. It would be a lot of money and then add the cost of concrete and perhaps labor and we were getting up there in expense.

I soon decided that if the government got hold of this concept they would do as they generally do and pass laws mandating the "safety feature," under their ever pervasive reason; "this is for your own good." There would not be a choice for the consumer who wants a trailer with the steel or without the added steel ( a savings of about $1500). One size fits all by law. I dropped it. My conclusion was that if people decided they wanted the security from a tornado they could do as they show in the Wizard of Oz and build a shelter below ground. They could do what many were doing in the 1960s and build a "fall-out shelter." I have to laugh about that. I remember one of my children coming home one evening back in those days to tell me that his pal Billy had told him not to tell anyone but his dad was building a shelter in case the Russians bombed us. Billy also said that his dad was keeping guns there too just in case people decided to break in. I think that old fall-out shelter is now a wine cellar.

It is always so sad to read of these tragedies. The fury of nature. On these same pages is the good story of the little boy who was picked-up by one of these tornadoes and carried a long distance and suffered only a few cuts and bruises. God Bless these folks.

It's sad they had to die but I just want to comment on a post on this thread regarding the fact that maybe a trailer home was all they could afford. If this is true, maybe they shouldn't have had three kids back-to-back-to-back. 2, 14 months n 2 months? Again, I feel bad for the deaths and just replying to the lack of affordability comment.

Mike S.: "They can predict when a storm is going to have tornadoes in it days in advance."

Actually, Mike, this is the way it works, and I'll try to put in in simple terms so everyone can understand.

Cold air cells in one area move into an area of warm air cells (or vice-versa). Rain is not a given but, most often, the exchange of these warm and cold air masses seem to coincide with storms, which can produce abrupt changes in temperatures. Meteorologists know that this is the optimum condition for tornadoes to form. The cold air masses meeting with the warm air masses make for turbulent winds. Often ... frequently, in fact ... these turbulent winds create funnel clouds as the two opposing air masses try to force their way over, under, through, or around each other. This is not a guarantee of tornadoes. (Storm Chasers also know the conditions required to form tornadoes and follow weather reports avidly to try to determine where the next outbreak of tornadoes is likely to strike.)

Now, there are several levels of weather advisories and some of these are different for different parts of the country. In areas where tornadoes are common you will find warning such as: Storm Warnings, Severe Weather Advisories, Tornado WATCHES, and Tornadoe WARNINGS. Now, the difference between a Tornado WATCH and a Tornado WARNING is that, a Watch means conditions are optimum for a tornado to develop and a Warning means a tornado has been spotted on the ground. Now, the difference between these two stages indicates the difficulty NWS and meteorologists in general have in 'predicting' tornadoes. They simply cannot. They can tell when conditions are right for a tornado to develop and they can even tell you that one or more have been spotted on the ground in this or that area. But tornadoes are quirky little buggers. They tend to bounce and have their own form of prestidigitation in that they can pop up, wreak havoc on an area a few yards long, then just disappear. They have been known to set down, tear up a house, hop over one or two and rip through a few more along a given path. Or, they might set down and cling to the ground for miles and miles destroying everything in their path.

Those affected by the recent tornadoes in Kansas were some of the first to reap the benefits of a new level of storm prognostication. Dual Pol Radar. Dual Pol shows a higher degree of storm damage and can show debris in the air thrown up by the storm. AND - listen carefully - it gave them a TWENTY-FIVE MINUTE WINDOW of warning as opposed to the approximately 12 minutes advance warning normally available ahead of a tornado.

TWENTY FIVE MINUTES NOT DAYS!!!

And even at this, they cannot tell you for certain if your area is going to be hit by one of the perceived tornado storms or if it will peter out before it reaches your area or perhaps even change directions. The storms which spawn tornadoes tend to be rather whimsical. You can be looking up at the sky, watching the clouds and, suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, instantaneously it seems, a funnel cloud will drop down. If you are lucky, it won't be anywhere near you!

The REAL sin in this situation is that so many homes in areas where tornadoes are common have no basements or storm cellars where the occupants can seek shelter. They are, instead, built on slab. And, in the rural farm communities such as those hit by last weekend's wrath, it is not uncommon for people to own acres and acres of land, have stables and barns and still choose to live in a trailer. (For some reason, some people actually LIKE to live in those danged tin boxes!)

The sirens go off so often (in the spring it can be as much as every day or two for weeks on end) that, in a "Boy Who Cried Wolf" scenario, people begin to disregard the seriousness behind the warning sirens. They hear them all the time and, even though Indiana is the only state in which they have had tornadoes in every month of the year, they simply cannot imagine they will really get hit by one. You know how it goes. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

So, Mike S, stop and think for a minute about how many things you take for granted in your everyday life. How many of those things, with just a little tweak of fate, might have turned your life on its end and destroyed your stability and everything you hold dear? But, this time anyway, you got lucky and it didn't end badly for you.

Yes, this poor family, for whatever reason, lived in a mobile home. The formed tin was no match for the EF4 tornado that ripped through their town. But, in all fairness, the brick and mortar and timber homes just down the road (and they were just down the road in this case, and across the street), were no match for that EF4 either. And people died in those homes, too.

Over the first decade of this century - 2000 to 2010 the average death count, per year, was 56. In all, the count from this rash of tornadoes currently stands at 31. Over half the first decade average in this one outbreak. And it looks as though this year might be on track to match last year's unfathomable storm death toll which topped out at almost ten times the previous decade's yearly average with 550 in just one year!

This is my territory. Although I live in a fairly metropolitan area, I have family that live right in the area of Henryville and Marysville, IN and surrounding areas which have been so torn apart by these devastating storms. Anywhere in southern Indiana, if you don't know someone hit by the tornadoes, you know someone who does. And everyone of them knows it could as just as easily have been them this time and, maybe, next time, it will be.

So for anyone to callously declare someone "should have" done this or that during the storm or ahead of a tornado, simply does not understand the dynamics of tornadoes and the attempts at predicting where they might develop or touch down.

Predict a tornado? You might as well try and catch the wind!

Journal journal happens to be right, If you live in a mobile home park and you get warnings of severe storms heading your way, you need to have a plan to evacuate to a safe environment. Especially if you have kids, people who live in these areas are usually are told by their towns and cities to listen for these warnings People who live in hurricane prone areas get the same warnings granted hurricanes give much long warnings time frame, but it is still the same principle. I feel real bad about all the loss of life. But as adults we are suppose to think about the safety of our families in situations like this. Journal could have been a little more sensitive about how he worded it, but he didn't.

People,

Understanding how these things happen is very important. Improving our warning system will save lives.

If anyone would like to help with both of these, instead of blogging about it, I highly recommend contacting your local NWS station and enquire about becoming a trained, registered Sky Watch Storm Spotter.

The more people watching, the faster warnings can get out.

Daisy70-Thank-you so very much for your post and direction as to where people can send donations to help.

I think what my problem with journal is not so much what he said but the tone with which it was said. Even journal brought up the "tone" on the post in issue. No need to say hurtful things about the lost lives.

Doing nothing was precisely why this happened.

I live less than 30 minutes away from these people. I was in the basement of a friends house because I live on the second floor of a house. I don't understand why they took the risk in their trailer.

This is not a holocaust

assuming the had access to the information and the correct information at that. Lots of variables are in play to why they decided to stay.

We stare immobilized thinking it couldn't happen to us. For that family the delay and unbelief is why this happened. We, all of us, think "well it couldn't possibly happen to our house, our village, our family. "

Please people - have a plan even if it's to run to the neighbors and hide in their basement. Take 5 minutes right now and figure what will you do when in a situation similar? Will you take a blanket? Money? Laptop? Pets? Water bottle? I mean seriously what do you do? It's the indecision that causes death in these windy disasters.

Living in Eufaula OK many years ago, living in a trailer, we decided we'd have to check out our options,. Lady next door had a hideyhole in her back yard, within 10 feet of our back door. Opened it up and it had about 6" of water in it and a few water mocassins in it. Nope, keep looking. Neighbor across the street had a cement block garage covered with brick and framed with steel. He gave us the code to his garage door, just in case he wasn't home or something. But all the locals thought we were crazy, they just went to bed and slept through it. I'd be up half the night watching the weather. One time watching north where the tornado had just gone through Henrietta, my daughter told me later that there were three sisters floating around behind me. I had my keys in my hand, but didn't know what was behind me. Whew. So glad I only lived there for six months.

Information, preparedness, and paying attention.........that is all you need to survive a tornado. I think the biggest problem is that this area has not seen storms like this iin so many years the younger folks think tornado's only happen in Oklahoma and Texas........get your head together and make plans and you can live with these things.

Kathryn - that's a lot to assume. I had a friend and her son die in Joplin who had a bug out bag, a mattress in their basement, a weather radio, and an action plan they actually rehearsed occasionally. She was scared of tornadoes and I can't imagine she was oblivious to a storm coming through. But, they died in that tornado. So, it seems, that is not all you need to survive a tornado.
I'm tired of people assuming they know what was going on the last moment's of this family's lives, or anything about them. Think about how you would feel if all these comments were directed toward someone you loved. I just hope the surviving family knows better than to ever read comments on news stories about their family.

You couldn't have used another word other than "holocaust"? because that is not the definition of a holocaust.

Tao of Wow, all of us in this area knew days in advance there were very severe storms heading our way. We also knew, the night before, when the strongest storms were going to hit the area. Many of the businesses and schools in/around Louisville closed down and sent people home early. When the meteorologists tell us that far in advance that these storms are going to be bad, especially after tornadoes damaged a town south of Louisville on Wednesday, you take heed and make preparations to go elsewhere. Its very sad and all I can do is shake my head when people ignore the warnings.

Of course, there was no way of knowing where any tornadoes were going to touch down, but this unfortunate family could have made the decision to ride out the storm elsewhere. I'm sure every family member of theirs wishes they would have. I've lived in L'ville all my life (33yrs), and I've never seen storms this strong hit the area (the meteorologist said the same thing), so its likely most never thought one this strong would come along.

My heart goes out to them. All of us in this area were pulling for this little girl to make it, and its sad she didn't.

amanda e,

What is your obsession. An "holocaust", although most often by fire, is great destruction resulting in extensive loss of life. With no warning systems, there would have been more extensive loss of life, so the term could be, if not preferred, applicable.

This is a time for consolation not division. God bless all those lost and those left behind.

I am just saying that the access to tv and radio might have been limited. Even if they knew a storm was coming might not of had the full details of the severity. They might not of had any place to run to depending on location. I didn't read anywhere of a close near by shelter not being utilized. The area might not of had suitable procedures for this kind of event given there might not have been safety shelter available close by.

The problem I see with Journal, Texas, and the rest of the people saying it was predicted and a senseless death is that you are suggesting that they had a television and had it on. Everything I have heard from the area that many people in the park did not even have a television, let alone just sit around watching it all day long. I was in my classroom teaching when it occured. The only news we received was that a tornado had just touched down about 10 miles from us and we needed to take cover. We were smart enough to get all of the students into a proper position and keep them at school, not send them home. Schools have a different building code here and are generally the safest buildings in the entire county, which is the same in most states. Still sometimes you cannot prevent it no matter what, just as one school in Southern Indiana is basically gone. Sometimes no matter how many warnings that you may think there are, our lives just keep us from hearing them. It is too bad that this conversation is even happening here. This truly needs to take place somewhere else and leave only sympathy to a very young family. The parents were still kids at only 20 and 21. I am sure some of you had all of the answers figured out when you were that age, but most don't. They hung on to their precious children and tried to keep them as safe as they knew how. Prayers to the parents/grandparents of these FIVE children.

KYEngineer: "I've lived in L'ville all my life (33yrs), and I've never seen storms this strong hit the area (the meteorologist said the same thing), so its likely most never thought one this strong would come along."

Yeah. At thirty-three, you've missed a lot of really "exciting" tornado and storm weather in the area. But your parents should have told you about the ones that hit just before yo uwere born. Ask someone just a wee bit older about the beautiful trees along Eastern Parkway and Cherokee Park that got ripped up and thrown around like matchsticks. Pretty devastating years for tornadoes in '75 and '79. I remember them. I remember the green skies and the hail as big as your fist. I remember peoples roofs ... their whole homes, their entire lives wiped out. I remember those trees, some of them falling through people's homes, others blocking the streets and tearing out power lines while the homes in front of which they once stood remained seemingly untouched. I don't know what channel you watch for weather reports but the weather man must be a fairly young ... and innocent ... weatherman.

WilMay ... thank you for your beautiful comments. It's nice to see some understanding here of the situation.

I know you should never stay in a trailer, I have heard that even going to a ditch is safer. But I can't imagine what this young couple with three kids two and under were feeling. I don't know how much warning there was.

I'm glad someone mentioned the neighbor. Yet another person put himself in harm's way trying to help others; it warms my sad heart. I'm going to donate to the Red Cross this instant.

For sure not stay in a mobile home.........all mobile home parks here in Oklahoma are required by law to have tornado shelters.........it is a shame homebuilders are not required to do the same.

There is no prefect way to handle that situation. Sometimes you do exactly what the experts say and you die. Sometimes you do the exact opposite of what the experts say and you live. All the experts say never seek shelter in a highway overpass but we all have seen the video of the people that survived by doing exactly that. Getting under ground is you best option and sometimes the debris will still kill you. Short of a bank vault or a reinforced tornado shelter it is a cr@pshoot. A storm that is capable of stripping the asphalt off the road and lifting a entire house in one piece a hundred feet in the air is a monster you don't want to try to outwit. There are things you can to that increase your odds of surviving but little that can guarantee it.

Kathryn, I am a homebuilder here in North Texas also known as "Tornado Alley" and when requested to build a tornado shelter I do. I am starting a new home soon for a young couple and it will have a tornado shelter that can withstand an F5 tornado. But to say it is a shame we are not required to build one in every home is wrong. Many people can not afford to spend an extra $5-10,000 on a shelter. Odds are way against one ever hitting your house but it does happen. I am also building another home for a family that had theirs destroyed by a tornado last year and they are not building a tornado shelter. I guess they feel it won't happen twice!

DevilsSon, I don't know what experts you are listening to, but if you go into an overpass during a tornado, you'll be sucked out.
If the experts you are talking about happen to be the newscrew that got lucky back in the mid-90s, you'd be mistaken.
Many, many, MANY, storm chasers have specifically said to do NOT go up in an overpass.

Um, Phoenixflame, if you read DevilsSon's comment, you would see that he wrote NOT to go into an overpass. Try reading please. It's fundamental!

@Charles-1050246 there are grants and assistance fema provides for the construction of shelters. The structure or property can not be in the flood plain though (not that you would build a home in the flood plain ... i would hope not anyhow)

No Patience: Phoenix can't even write properly, did you really think she'd be able to read too?

@Phoenix: Please do learn to read and write. Your life will be richer for it. If you could have comprehended what you tried to read, you would have seen that Devil's Son was specifically stating that you can't really predict the outcome no matter how much warning you have. People who do the "wrong" thing have been lucky enough to live (like the stormchasers and the underpass) and people who do the "right" thing have been unfortunate enough to have died (seeking shelter in a Walmart that then collapsed and buried them all).

Having grown up in a trailer park, I know what it's like to dread storms. We didn't live in the midwest, where tornados seem to seek out trailer parks, but we had hurricanes and they are no better to ride out when your house is on wheels. Go somewhere safe. If this family had, they probably would have lived, but who can say?

Not everyone in a mobile home lives in a trailer park.

But the question I have is, why aren't trailers in "tornado alley" built to the same specs as Zone II and Zone III (hurricane specs)?

I realize it wouldn't may not have made much difference with a storm this size, but FL also has some of the most stringent rules on anchoring trailers to slabs which have been copied by many other states.

FWIW conventional homes have far stricter building codes in the Gulf region too these days with roof tiedown and anchoring. A roof structure held in place simply with some 16d nails is coming right off as soon as the wind gets under the eaves unless it has something else keeping it down.

Yeah a tornado this size will make rubble out of brick and mortar, or concrete home. It's always better to be underground or in the interior room of a larger building.

Schools and strip malls were flattened. You do not understand tornadoes.

People survived in the Henryville Highschool. And considering I was huddled in my basement here in Indiana with 1 EF 4 to my north and an EF5 to my south, yeah I think I know a little bit about tornadoes.

Quit thinking "Oh there's nothing you can do". There's plenty you can do.

www.ready.gov

journal journal, as you say, those tornadoes were "to your south" and "to your north". You didn't experience the tornadoes. The others that were killed did. And some were killed while in their basements. Here in Ohio, a woman was sucked right out of her basement where she'd gone to seek shelter with her kids. There is no guarantee you will survive one of these storms. Blaming the victims is just cold blooded. And of course, it's obvious, you are seeking to come off as an expert and know it all. I've lived through a tornado. Believe me. When you know it's coming it's all ready too late. And you don't really know it's coming until you hear it. By then it's right on top of you. Warnings are given all spring and summer here in Ohio. Most of them never produce a tornado. People who have no shelter near by get use to just hunkering down until the warning is over because they have no where to go.

But then, they are not as bright as you are they.

There's no guarantees that you'll survive a car wreck if you wear your seat belt either. But you do. And you know why.

I'm not pretending I'm smarter than anyone else. But I hope people read this article and think about what they would have done differently, in that situation.

You're more SMUG than everyone else.God bless the child,their family,and those left behind.I indicated belief in god! Bonus smug round!

They do here in Oklahoma, it is a law.

journal, journal is not smug he is correct. In ground shelters can be had for as little as $2,000. and if your governor would request Fema aide they have a program to help with even that small cost. When we had the F5 here in Oklahoma in 99' FEMA helped put over 8,000 new shelters in the area. We have a current program that is ongoing to help with the cost of these life saving shelters. Call your Governor and demand he take part in this program.

$2,000.00 is not a small cost.

consider-it ..."$2,000.00 is not a small cost."

Less than your hospital bill if you survive.....Or your funeral if you die.....Multiplied by the 5 people in that one mobile home .....

Journal Journal is completely right while it is very sad this happened, they were well warned of this, just like New Orleans awhile back, they were told to leave because of the diaster that was coming, and they ignored it and they expected help from their doom when it arrived, very sad but they stew in their misfortune when they are informed of whats coming and refuse to listen. Again i am very sad to hear this story but it could have easily been avoided had they had some kind of contingency plan.

Cody- Whether Journal is right or not isn't the point. It's done and over and this family is gone. Their family and friends are in mourning. How do you think they feel about the posts that are being put up balming these people for their own deaths?? It's disrespectful to come on here and try to rub in it, be right, think you have a right to tell strangers hurtful things?? What does journal get out of the post?? The satisfaction of being a know-it-all?? Journal could have just kept silent and went and found a constructive way to HELP rather than just spouting off about how RIGHT he/she is!!!!!!

It is easy to sit here and blame the family for not seeking shelter or saying that $2,000 is not that much. However, when you are living from paycheck to paycheck, you might not have that option. Yes, you can state is would be cheaper than the costs of hospital bills etc, but many cant afford that as well and go without insurance.

Instead of attacking/blaming a family now deceased, lets look at the breakdowns with this situation to learn from it and develop better plans for the future.

RIP

It's not a matter of gloating. Journal DID find a constructive way to help by stressing the fact that a mobile home is the worst place to be during a tornado and trying to make sure senseless deaths like this don't ever happen again.

Living from paycheck to paycheck has no valid point, money does not make up for common sense, i live paycheck to paycheck just as much as the next guy, but i know to leave the trailer park and hit shelter when the weather looks really bad. Living in Oklahoma will do that do a person, tornadoes are not something to be pushed aside, they kill on a regular basis, and when there are warnings way in advance you need to take advantage of them so things like this are reduced in frequency of occuring. It seems every few years a state or 2 gets a wake up call and gets all hyped up on correcting natural diaster contincency plans then it dies just as fast as it came up. Regardless whether the state does anything or not for shelters, its up to the families to have the plans set in motion. I and most of my friends have plans for every type of natural diaster we can think.

You guys blaming this poor family are all JERKS- Of COURSE you survived while huddled in your basements! THIS specific giant tornado did NOT pass right over YOUR heads! If THIS very tornado passed over your head you could speak. Had THIS tornado passed over your head while you huddled in your basement you could have easily died too! It's easy to say "I was more than prepared and I survived" when the damn thing didn't even pass over you!

The fact of the matter is you wear your seatbelt for a reason correct? Even while wearing your seatbelt you could easily die in a car crash, so why do you wear it? To reduce the chance that a fatality will occur, its the same exact with tornadoes, why do you go into a basement or shelter? To reduce the chance of a fatality, so if you don't go to a shelter then who's to blame? Granted I am sorry that this happened, but the parents need to take responsibility for their actions or lack there of

Cody, I think people are trying to tell you that it's great to share information and try to help others be prepared for the worst. Having said that what you are being asked to think about is thinking about the way you address the people your talking about/to is nearly as important as what your telling them. Do you listen to people who are attempting to instruct you when they do it in a rude, condecending, seemingly heartless way?? Or do you respond best to people offer constructive critcism in a compassionate and heartfelt way?? Most respond best to the latter.

Bronze Age Superstition won't help. Calling on non-existent invisible sky fairies won't help. Paying attention to weather warnings and taking adequate precautions when bad weather threatens will help.

I've lost two homes to storms over the past 40 years, one in Western Kentucky, another in North Georgia. I rode out both storms in storm shelters. I had storm shelters, and I used those storm shelters, because I listened to Civil Defense and followed their best advice in building them, and listened to the weather service storm warnings which told me when to be in them. It isn't rocket science. It is a hole in the ground that can save your life. God can't save you (because he doesn't exist), but a shelter can.

lets not turn this into a religious debate even though i know you are trying very hard. George can believe whatever he wants and if it upsets you that he believes is something then you need to find something better to do with your time.

Congratulations on your having the brains to HAVE shelters and USE them, ($2000 shelter vs $100,000+ hospital/funeral expenses is a no brainer) but don't insult someone just because you don't have the same beliefs. Remember, JohnCarter, people have the right to believe what they want, just as you have the right to not believe if you don't want to. It's called freedom of religion (not freedom FROM religion as some seem to think when they want everything having to do with God removed from everywhere). Just as anything I might say will not convince you to believe, nothing YOU say will convince me there is no God. The only difference is I will pray for you instead of call you names or insult you because you don't believe. In the end, one of us MUST be wrong, mustn't we? However, the Christians will win either way. If YOU are right, we will just go to nothing; but if WE are right, you will burn. It's YOUR choice, not God's, and you have chosen. Good luck.

"I had storm shelters, and I used those storm shelters, because I listened to Civil Defense and followed their best advice in building them"

JohnCarter,

I'm glad you had the means & were able to do this, but many of us cannot. I am a 55yr old disabled female. I live on $827 per month + $130 per month in food stamp benefits. I would love to have a storm shelter to use, but I could listen all day to the Civil Defense's best advice on building one, but that won't help me much when I don't have the means to build it anyway.

You are lucky you had them where you lived & I'm glad that you had the health, strength, & extra money needed to build them....but please don't put down others who may not be as blessed as you were. There are many of us who would love to have a "hole in the ground" & though it's not "rocket science", it is still beyond our reach.

No money, and not even power tools required, just a shovel and an axe. Dig a hole, line it and top it with logs. Shovel the excess dirt back on top to hold everything in place. Your great grandfather could do it. If he lived in tornado alley, he probably did.

I'll admit I made a concession to the modern world. I used a tractor mounted backhoe and a chainsaw. Not everyone owns those, though there are rental stores in nearly every community. Every hardware store sells shovels and axes. If you are disabled, you might need to hire a handyman to do the heavy work. Even on your budget you could afford an illegal alien day laborer for a couple of days.

john carter-some people can't physically do the work and don't have the $$$$ to pay somebody else or friends and family that will do it for free anyway. Where do expect people will get the logs free? Lots's of people don't even have shovels and axes. Lot's of people won't break the law and hire illegals.

However, since you know so much about the construction of these low cost shelters and know where to get things cheaply maybe you should be out in your community fund raising and helping build shelters for hte seniors, disabled folks, single parents, and others with out means to do so. IF we heard that you were doing such a thing your posts would be easier to agree with.

I hope when the areas rebuild, there is consideration for design in both building and land use that takes in to consideration these weather events that occur.

Common Sense died a long time ago. The Building Codes should require that a storm cellar( prefab) must be installed within any trailer park. depending on how many people live there ! These things blow away if you eat too much pork and beans !So let's send some more money over to to the camel Jockeys and the Rock throwers in Syria and Afghanistan where they don' t give crap about us and don't spend it here to rebuild Safe Communities ! Hey Osamabama ! ARE YOU LISTENING ! Congress get your head out of your collectives Arses !

As Fred Sanford would say " YOU BIG DUMMY"!

This is the sort of WPA job FDR would have pushed to put the unemployed to work. Everyone drawing unemployment, everyone on welfare, should be out there with a shovel and an axe, building shelters in tornado alley.

Now that is an excellent suggestion! I would add that the government also should be funding paying some people who are unemployed and utilizing low risk prisioners as well.

I'll take my chances with tornadoes instead of Mexican drug cartels thanks.

I'm thinking not since there have been documented cases of tornadoes, hurricanes, and volcanoes long before there were any machines that burned fossil fuels. If you don't like the severe weather, don't move somewhere that harbors it. There is a reason that a particular section of the midwest is called "tornado alley". Just like the hurricanes that pester the gulf and east coast. I wouldn't live on Cape Hatteras because it practically gets wiped out every time there is a hurricane but that's where they are most likely going to hit and you take your chances every year when the season comes 'round. Now, with hurricanes, you aren't likely to get more than one hit per year in our area and the rest are all remnants from gulf hits that move over us but there are many many MANY storms that go through tornado alley EVERY YEAR. California seems to be plagued by wildfires recently (ok, those likely ARE created by man made means). I think after the third time my house got burned to the ground, I'd find somewhere else to live.

It's like idiots that move near an air force base or naval air station and then b!tcha bout the jet noise. Sorry, but the realtors MUST disclose the noise factor AND CRASH ZONE when they show you a house. If you don't like the noise, don't live there. Same thing with this. If you don't like the storms, don't live there. Ok, so maybe you can't afford to live in a house. No problem. I grew up in a trailer myself so I know what that's like, but you don't have to live THERE. The things are MOBILE homes. Move em somewhere else. It's tragic that this whole family was wiped out and these grandparents are faced with 5 funerals to deal with in addition to an emotional loss of so much of their family.

In Oklahoma, which is the center of tornado alley, even the stock car races and movie theatres have basement areas that are safe. Every public building has a safe area. Most trailer parks have a basement somewhere. If not, in eufaula oklahoma, they have the armory which has a safe area, so people drive over there, a few blocks to be safe. I live in Iowa now. And we have a few tornadoes, but nothing like Oklahoma.

Underground shelters, especially in a trailer park community are really the safest way to go.

As we saw, even new construction buildings, of solid brick and steel, can be ripped to shreads by these storms.

A low-cost answer I saw recently was this one:

http://www.waff.com/story/16611937/school-buss?clienttype=printable

Maybe not Government Approved, but better than hiding in a trailer.

I just checked out the site Solomon Kane posted. What a great cost effective idea!

It is the law now here in Oklahoma Willow. All mobile home parks must have shelters large enough to hold everyone. Our schools mostly have basements and if not reinforced inside walls......this can be done but Governors must be the leaders in any effort this large. We even have an ongoing program to help people pay for in ground shelters. We got real serious here after the F5 in 99' that wiped out half of Okla City.

Personally every state east of Colorado needs to have a plan like this for trailor parks. Here in MI we have a few bad storms every year and I have relatives that live in trailor parks, they come to our house to ride out the weather. I do think we need safe areas here to. The older people always tell me Saginaw Valley will never be hit by a big tornado because we are in a valley. I look at them and laugh our number is going to be called and there is nothing we can do about it.

I believe it was a neighbor's boyfriend.

And Amen Larry. God Bless....

Blue Mule........such a beautiful, simple prayer. Bless you.

Kryptonite-what in the world is your problem??????

To all you haters and judges out there, an entire family was wiped out in this cataclysm. Have a little respect for them and their survivors. Everyone would like to live in a big home with the best of everything. The reality is people live in what they can afford. It is very easy to point fingers and say after the fact what they "should have done". Fact is they did the best they could. None of these people "deserved" to die like this, especially those babies....RIP. God Bless the Elders who now have to live without their children AND grandchildren. How they must be suffering. Horrible.

Krypton here has no life. That's his problem... that, and he has the intellect of a goat because he's choosing to bring this up not on a forum or post where it is relevant.

I'd like to take a moment to apologize to all those that were offended by my name calling when I referred to Blue_Mule as an idiot, it was a bad choice of words. I just get so annoyingly angry with delusional religious types and their silly comments. More brain washed Christians living a fairy tale life, thinking there's a heaven and hell and god and jesus...where oh where has reality gone?

Also to Laura in South Florida...You are not a F- -king idiot....just delusional.

Have a great day everyone!

Great idea Rick. Write your Congressman about it. Hopefully he's not a Republican, or you can forget about it, but most have concrete foundations that could be easily be extended to have an inexpensive "panic room" adjacent or underneath (if trailer owners were willing to install a trap door). State-level action would be needed to supercede the morass of local building and zoning restrictions, but it definitely would save lives. Storm cellars and basements were there for a reason in fixed structures in certain parts of the county.

Hey Patriot: I'm a Republican (specifically a Conservative) and would support my taxpayer dollars going towards this. It would sure beat the hell out of it going to failed "green energy" crap that you liberals use our taxpayer dollars for. Along with Solyndra and a half dozen other failed companies from the "Green" part of the $842 billion 2009 Obama/Democrat Stimulus, see exhibit F:

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/green-company-gets-390m-subsidies-lays-125/394051

The amount of our money (those 50% of us who actually pay the IRS taxes) you liberal Democrats have wasted on so-called social and entitlement spending is disgusting, let alone that of special interest spending as referenced above.

Thank You Jhawke

Wow! Never takes long for some jackass (who somehow claims himself to be a patriot,) to bring politics into a story like this. APatriot1??? More like, APathetic1.

BiggEsmalls-agree with you there. How freaking disrespectful and unecessary it is to drag name calling, arguing about politcs etc. in to this discussion. GOd help you when something bad happens to you and yours. How would you feel if your family had such a major tragedy and all people around you could do is fight over politics? DIscuss shelters how to get them and so on but PLEEEEAAASSEE keep your predjuidices against each others beliefs out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's the America we live in, Johanna. There's nothing so low that people won't politicize it to make the other guy look bad. Three dead babies? Hey, why not.

How sad! Perhaps SOME good could come from this tragedy....like a law requiring all trailer parks in tornado prone areas to have a safe underground shelter capable of housing all of the residents. We could call it "Angel's law". Poor baby!

kryptonite, what is your point? I'm sure you believe religion is everything that's wrong with the world. But here I see one person wishing people well in her way, and another person spewing hate for that person and everyone like her. How is it you believe you are the better model for the world?

....are you even aware of what this conversation is about kryptonite? I don't have the same beliefs as Laura...but good for you that you can find comfort in that, and I would like to think that what ever the case that this family is together some where. There is nothing wrong with believing that...what a pointless comment.

Krypie has some issue going on that's for sure. Maybe krypie doesn't feel like he/she has any power in life and the only way to feel strong, powerful, etc is to try to discredit and disrespect others beliefs. OK KRYPIE you've flexed your muscles and we're all duly impressed.(sarc) So how about finding something else to occupy your time???

krypt - Your quote. "No wonder we are losing the war on human progress." Your 'war' on 'human progress' is evident - win or lose.

Idiocy begins at home.

Just delete all his/her posts and let them get on to another story.

was gonna say something but Apatriot1 hit it right on! One day when its our time we will be able to be with our loved ones that has passed on before us!

Critic Of Society....you are killing me. Hahahaha! I agree.

I'd really like to know how YOU know what YOU know, Critic of Society.

It's very simple, i_saw_it:

I know what I know because I live a life embracing reality--not clinging to delusional fairy-tale.

I accept real-life truths, in the world, as they happen to be. I don't need to cling to childish fairy-tales about some mighty magic genie hovering in the sky, waving its mighty hand, or sending down a "son" of its own making (and I say "its" because those who think their god is a "He" are even more delusional than the rest.)

I don't need to cling to stories about some magic kid popping out of a virgin's belly and growing up to be some long-haired hippie who loves everyone and pops dead people out of graves and gets killed on a stick and is put in the ground and then magically re-emerges 3 days later, floating off into the blue yonder, promising to return one of these days.

That's all nothing but fairy-tale for people who can't face reality. Instead of real school, gathering intelligence, they sit in Sunday School being brainwashed with all this malarkey, often since childhood.

PS: And you didn't impress me with your capitalizing of the word "YOU." It showed me that you're no different from the afore-mentioned religious nut-jobs who hear voices from clouds and who think they're better than everyone else because of it.

You're done.

It's very simple, i_saw_it:

I know what I know because I live a life embracing reality--not clinging to delusional fairy-tale

I accept real-life truths, in the world, as they happen to be. I don't need to cling to childish fairy-tales about some mighty magic genie hovering in the sky, waving its mighty hand, or sending down a "son" of its own making (and I say "its" because those who think their god is a "He" are even more delusional than the rest.) I don't need to cling to stories about some magic kid popping out of a virgin's belly and growing up to be some long-haired hippie who loves everyone and pops dead people out of graves and gets killed on a stick and is put in the ground and then magically re-emerges 3 days later, floating off into the blue yonder, promising to return one of these days.

That's all nothing but fairy-tale for people who can't face reality. Instead of real school, gathering intelligence, they sit in Sunday School being brainwashed with all this malarkey, often since childhood.

PS: And you didn't impress me with your capitalizing the word "YOU." It showed me that you're no different from the afore-mentioned religious nut-jobs who hear voices from clouds and who think they're better than everyone else because of it.

You're done.

Critic Of Society, It's difficult to believe this is the 21st century, isn't it?

"The more things change..."

PS: And don't bother replying to this (factual) message with some typical robotic religious response like "I'll pray for you!"

(My response to you--and all those who do that sort of thing--is "I'll think for you!")

Btw Critic, may I borrow this one?

critic, im ashamed to be in the same species as you right now, and for all of you people out there condemming people for praying for this family, SHAME ON YOU! are these people forcing you to believe in their religion? NO! they are simply expressing their regret for the LOSS OF LIFE that has just occured! i dont care what you believe in, its disrespectful to call someone a F***ing idiot because they dont share your belief. right now, you all need to do what your mama told you: "if you can't say something nice, dont say anything at all". an entire family was lost in this event, focus on that, not your own petty opinions.

Well said bananao8...though I can understand why these "people" don't show respect for the loss of lives from these horrific storms. How can they when they show no respect for the rights of others to have their own beliefs?

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all who suffered such great loss of family, friends, and their homes.

AGree with jeepers peepers and banana08. Critic. Maybe if you stopped getting stoned, dropping acid or whatever drugs you like to mix and match day and night you wouldn't be saying"I saw it". You kinda sound MORE delusional (capped to stress the word not to shout) than those you are complaining about. You don't think what religious people believe in is true thats fine. However, you have no more proof that your RIGHT then you do that they are WRONG. So come back and dis these folks when you have proof our just try and respect others opinions as you'd like them to respect yours. Simple. Or does that sound too much like "the golden rule" to you?? Either way ,they are good words to live by!!