West Tennessee Woman is a Tornado Survivor
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JACKSON Tenn. – It’s probably not a surprise to West Tennesseans that storm shelters can mean life or death during tornado season, but sometimes we might get caught thinking that these events can’t happen to us until the minute severe weather is bearing down on our neighborhoods. Storm shelters, like the one that WBBJ is giving away Thursday, have been tested to withstand winds over two-hundred miles per hour and would be a likely source of safety in the event of any form of severe weather. Cheryl Fisher, a local resident of Madison county, told us she learned that after a storm, you can replace material things but you cannot replace a life. She made the decision to purchase one of these storm shelters after losing her home to the F-4 tornado that struck Madison county in 2003. She’s seen firsthand why it is so important to pay attention to severe weather watches and warnings, especially when they can be close to home. Fisher says, “It destroyed more than just material things, it destroyed my peace of mind…I had panic attacks and I just couldn’t deal with it at all.” Having a storm shelter has given her and many other storm shelter owners the security they seek when severe weather threatens to strike. Shelters have to be certified for use but most shelters are built with concrete walls that are 3″ thick on the side and 4″ thick on top and bottom to provide the safety one needs to withstand an EF-4 tornado. Without a community storm shelter available for residents in Madison county, having a residential storm shelter available or a plan to find a safe place to wait out severe weather is a must! Storm shelters and basements are some of the safest locations to find refuge. If you don’t have either nearby, the safest part of a house is in the center-most room in your home that puts as many walls between you and the outside as possible and is on the lowest floor of your home. If you’re interested in purchasing a tornado shelter, something to keep in mind is that manufacturers are in such high demand right now so it could take as many as three months to have one installed. Make sure to plan ahead for when the next storm hits, and remember the VIPIR 7 storm team is with you every step of the way during severe weather. To enter the contest for a free Fain storm shelter, follow this link to see the full contest rules and how to enter. (https://www.wbbjtv.com/contests/Storm-Shelter-Contest-Rules-256187621.html)
