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dixiegrrrrl

(60,156 posts) Tue May 21, 2013, 04:23 PM May 2013

For all those who were asking:Why Don't More Homes in Oklahoma Have Basements? [View all]

In a region that sees more than its share of tornadoes, it also prompts a question: Why aren't more homes here built with basements? After all, Oklahoma City and its surrounding communities are part of the Plains region known as "Tornado Alley" for the frequency with which twisters strike here.

The answer is largely due to three reasons: area building codes, the amount of water in the soil here, and the generally high level of the water table, according to reporting done back in 2011 by MSNBC.

As one commenter described it on the Prepared Society message boards, Oklahoma is a land of "clay soil and high water table."

http://www.wunderground.com/news/why-dont-oklahoma-homes-have-basements-20130521

clay soil and high water table is also found in other tornado target states.

24 replies

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For all those who were asking:Why Don't More Homes in Oklahoma Have Basements? [View all] dixiegrrrrl May 2013 OP

It's like people think that those who live in Tornado Alley have never considered these things. Brickbat May 2013 #1

Yes, they can build to resist normal tornadoes with hurricane straps and such Kolesar May 2013 #6

So what? Eddie Haskell May 2013 #2

It's not just waterproofing... NYC_SKP May 2013 #4

But there was that one guy who had what looked like about a 6 foot square little space with Squinch May 2013 #11

These are the option, reinforced bunkers, don't even need to be below grade. NYC_SKP May 2013 #13

You mean something like a "Storm Cellar" Bandit May 2013 #15

But am I right in thinking there were very few in this area? The news reporter was Squinch May 2013 #17

the water table where I live is 3 ft along with clay soil. We have a basement notadmblnd May 2013 #12

I'll agree that high water table doesn't preclude basements, especially partial basements. NYC_SKP May 2013 #18

up here we put drainage ditches in. notadmblnd May 2013 #20

We call them French drains, but they work more for rain water than for water table. NYC_SKP May 2013 #21

ours extended probably 10 ft past the house out toward the back yard. notadmblnd May 2013 #22

The acidic clay soil on my wet wet lot dissolved the calcium in our basement's mortar and blocks Kolesar May 2013 #3

Some states, like mine, have a NO disclosure law. dixiegrrrrl May 2013 #8

Despite that, I still made a profit on my house when I sold it ten years ago Kolesar May 2013 #9

Reinforced concrete block safe closets are an option. nt NYC_SKP May 2013 #5

That yields a follow-up... Chan790 May 2013 #7

I think we also need to become prepared for more of these "once in a lifetime" Squinch May 2013 #16

What would prevent communtiy tunnel bunkers, Isoldeblue May 2013 #10

Went through a big tornado years ago and it turned out that if we had gone to the basement we would jwirr May 2013 #14

Lots of people have tornado shelters LeftInTX May 2013 #19

Most if not all old houses in rural Texas had cellars (partially underground,..... northoftheborder May 2013 #23

Doesn't match my experience FreeJoe May 2013 #24