8C THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
APARTMENT GUIDE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006
Basements provide some of the best protection during severe weather
For more information on tornadoes and tornado safety, visit the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov/hazards/tornadoes.
MORE ONLINE
For what to do before, during and after a tornado, visit NOAA at www.noaa.gov.
- To get weather updates, check out the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
You sure are in Kansas
Surviving severe weather in off-campus housing
BY TARA SCHUPNER
ENTITORES@NASAN.COM
KOMAN CORRESPONDENT
Photo Illustration By Jared Gab
W when the sirens went off during the microburst in early March. Sarah Lathrop
and her roommates didn't go to their basement.
They didn't have one.
Instead, they huddled in the downstairs closet of their Sunrise Village townhouse.
"I wish we did have a basement," said Lathrop, Phoenix senior. "But it's an apartment so I understand that's something that we can't always have."
More often than not, when severe weather strikes, apartment tenants in Lawrence find themselves in a similar situation.
Most apartments in the city do not have storm shelters or basements that tenants can go for shelter - and city codes do not require them to build any.
This means prospective and current tenants have to take responsibility for planning for severe weather, said Jane Blocher, Douglas County Red Cross director. "Students should not rely on other people to take care of them," Blocher said. "They should take the responsibility to plan ahead."
During the hunt
When visiting prospective apartments, ask apartment managers or landlords what shelter is available for tenants in case of severe weather.
at the dwelling they may move into with an eye toward storm safety," said Barry Walthall, City of Lawrence code enforcement manager. "Whether there's a basement or other fortified area where residents can take shelter."
"Prospective tenants should look
If there is no storm shelter on the premises, check out the buildings around the complex for
Also, ask current tenants where they go for shelter.
If the apartment complex has a place that can serve as shelter, such as the main office, ask what hours it is open. Offices, utility rooms and laundry rooms may not be available late at night or on weekends.
The most important thing, Blocher said, is to not assume before the event that shelter will be available.
ones that can serve as snelters. Churches and stores are possible options, as are neighbors' homes.
You can also find homeowners who live nearby and may be willing to let you take shelter in their basements. Again, ask beforehand,
Once you've signed the lease and moved into your new apartment, or even if you've been living there for a while, there are steps you can take to ensure your safety during severe weather.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors, especially if you live on an upper floor. You may be able to go to an apartment on the ground floor for shelter. But don't rely on that as your sole shelter – neighbors may not be home to let you in when the sirens go off.
After moving in
Gather some basic supplies and put them where you can get to them easily.
Invest in a battery-powered NOAa weather radio, said Joy Moser, spokesperson for Kansas' Emergency Management department. The radio can serve you well if you lose power in your apartment.
A severe weather kit should also include some water, food, a first-aid kit and a flashlight with extra batteries.
If your only warning is an outside siren and you haven't
With the right preparation tenants can avoid putting themselves in a situation like what happened to Kristen Howard, Plain Oak, Texas, junior. Howard woke up during the microburst, grabbed a flashlight and fled to the utility room in her apartment complex, The Hawker, 1011 Missouri St. There, she used her cell phone to call her mother back home in Texas to find out what was going on.
Caught off-guard
made any advance preparations, there are still things you can do to protect yourself.
Don't go outside if the siren has already gone off. At this point, you won't have time to reach a shelter.
Get as close to ground level as you can within the building. Head to the interior and stay away from windows. In most buildings, the bathroom is an ideal place. Specifically, the bathtub.
If none of these options are available, take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture, Blocher said. Cover your head with your arms and if you have a thick blanket or comforter, wrap yourself in it to minimize injuries from flying debris or glass.
Try not to put yourself in this situation, though. An adequate storm shelter can guarantee your safety better than a kitchen table.
Blocher said tenants should always have a Plan B, She said they needed to take responsibility for themselves and prepare ahead of time.
Red Lyon Tavern