Let's take a rational look at this.

You've lived for many years in a major earthquake zone. Earthquakes are less predictable and do damage in a much wider area than tornados generally do.

In the case of a tornado, you normally get some amount of warning. Your chance of being in the direct path of demolition is very small, and in most living situations you can take precautions that will pretty much insure your survival intact.

I'm not saying you shouldn't pay attention to the watches and warnings, those are a key to the whole thing. But the chance of you actually being hit by a tornado, even in that part of the country, is not any greater than the chance of being struck by lightning I suspect.

Of course I've lived in the midwest all my life, grown up with tornado watches, and seen actual tornadoes pass nearby or overhead a few times. I've seen the destruction they can do too, and can tell you the path of real damage is often very narrow, a couple hundred feet or so up to maybe an eighth of a mile. Nothing like a hurricane or an earthquake (let alone a wildfire.)

Might as well relax and enjoy the weather map. Be safe, but don't panic. You'll be fine.

Yanno, when I saw the photos of where you lived the first thot that came to mind was "Omg, tornado alley..."

May you and Animale be safe! Worried for ya!

=R=