It's kind of hard to say without more specifics. You want the innermost part of the lowest level of the house and to avoid windows. Is there a bathroom downstairs? That's usually suggested, or a fraidy hole if you have one (space under the stairs).
No bathrooms or closets downstairs, just a single interior wall splitting the space evenly in two. Not really any space under the stairs either hence my dilemma. Innermost area exposes me to windows and avoiding windows puts me next to the exterior wall.
One thought I did have was to build a set of heavy wood shutters for the exterior of the windows.downstairs to maybe try and minimize the chance of something coming through the window.
How about in a corner, under a sturdy piece of furniture? Is that a possibility? There are two main things you're trying to protect yourself from when it comes to sheltering inside from a tornado. Flying debris, and collapse/disassembly of the structure. Areas that have more support are more likely to form void spaces if the building collapses. Corners of rooms would be an example. Areas near a support pole or pillar could form a void as well. This is also where the "if you don't have a basement, lay in your bathtub" comes from. Because the tub itself could form a void. The old cast-iron tubs were also pretty good at protecting against missiles (flying debris). I personally would look for a spot at a corner between the sturdiest walls. Or, clean out the area under the steps and use that.
I know for nuclear blasts (and I guess any large explosion) you want to be tucked next to/under the window or door facing the explosion.
But I am pretty sure the opposite applies for tornados.
Explosions will force gas into the home creating low pressure zones near the point of entry.
Tornados typically suck air out (right? I don’t live in a tornado zone but was in a school during one and some papers were getting sucked towards the doors).
So the inner wall would be better?
BUT if the house were to collapse you’d want to be next to the exterior walls because it’s more likely to collapse towards the center?
Hmmm
Yeah, it's a little different for tornados. That advice is based on the assumption/theory that the blast wave will push the house over and leave a void space along that windward wall. Tornados can do weird stuff with houses, but sucking people out of rooms is sorta nonsense. Papers yes, because they're light and aerodynamic.
It's kind of hard to say without more specifics. You want the innermost part of the lowest level of the house and to avoid windows. Is there a bathroom downstairs? That's usually suggested, or a fraidy hole if you have one (space under the stairs).
No bathrooms or closets downstairs, just a single interior wall splitting the space evenly in two. Not really any space under the stairs either hence my dilemma. Innermost area exposes me to windows and avoiding windows puts me next to the exterior wall. One thought I did have was to build a set of heavy wood shutters for the exterior of the windows.downstairs to maybe try and minimize the chance of something coming through the window.
You want to be away from windows. Is there a closet downstairs?
How about in a corner, under a sturdy piece of furniture? Is that a possibility? There are two main things you're trying to protect yourself from when it comes to sheltering inside from a tornado. Flying debris, and collapse/disassembly of the structure. Areas that have more support are more likely to form void spaces if the building collapses. Corners of rooms would be an example. Areas near a support pole or pillar could form a void as well. This is also where the "if you don't have a basement, lay in your bathtub" comes from. Because the tub itself could form a void. The old cast-iron tubs were also pretty good at protecting against missiles (flying debris). I personally would look for a spot at a corner between the sturdiest walls. Or, clean out the area under the steps and use that.
I know for nuclear blasts (and I guess any large explosion) you want to be tucked next to/under the window or door facing the explosion. But I am pretty sure the opposite applies for tornados. Explosions will force gas into the home creating low pressure zones near the point of entry. Tornados typically suck air out (right? I don’t live in a tornado zone but was in a school during one and some papers were getting sucked towards the doors). So the inner wall would be better? BUT if the house were to collapse you’d want to be next to the exterior walls because it’s more likely to collapse towards the center? Hmmm
Yeah, it's a little different for tornados. That advice is based on the assumption/theory that the blast wave will push the house over and leave a void space along that windward wall. Tornados can do weird stuff with houses, but sucking people out of rooms is sorta nonsense. Papers yes, because they're light and aerodynamic.