TEXAS, USA — Climatologically and historically, fall is what's known as East Texas' secondary severe weather season, falling behind the active spring and early summer months.
According to Charlie Woodrum, warning coordinator for the National Weather Service office in Shreveport, mobile and manufactured homes are arguably one of the worst places to be when it comes to taking shelter.
"You're 15 to 20 times more likely to be killed if a tornado hit your mobile home versus being in a single family home," Woodrum said.
Woodrum went on to explain that 72% of deaths occurred when people were inside their home during a tornadic event, with more than half of that percentage being those who chose to shelter in mobile homes.
"Winds of about 100 mph with a tornado can completely lift a mobile home, toss it and destroy it," Woodrum said.
The agency recently released new guidance for people living in mobile homes, highlighting a three step plan that all mobile and manufactured home owners should consider when making a severe weather plan.
Sometimes, home owners may be faced with a difficult decision of no where to go due to limited resources, or a last minute warning.
As a last resort, you can seek shelter in your car. However, this effort is only suggested when you are unable to leave your manufactured home and your area is under a tornado warning. If you must seek shelter in your car, be sure to leave the car on and buckle your seatbelt so the air bags and safety features will be activated and deployed.
The best thing to do when it comes to severe weather events is prepare ahead of time. You should have more than one way to receive severe weather information.