Many Columbia residents remain unaware of their basement blind spot

The spring tornado season descended upon the city of Columbia this month, causing panic among residents who share a common shelter flaw: the lack of a basement.

Basements can provide shelter from wind-driven, potentially life-threatening weather events.

But numerous homes in Columbia lack basements due to construction costs, warm winters and the Midlands’ challenging soil conditions. The native clay soil retains water, making it difficult for moisture to drain properly, which increases the risk of flooding.

The region also experiences shallow frost lines, meaning the ground doesn’t freeze very deeply in the winter. As a result, the soil to shifts during freeze-thaw cycles, which can lead to cracks in both exterior foundations and interior basement walls, according to Carolina Foundation Solutions.

Local resident Cole Miller, who rents his Olympia-area house, is concerned about his exposure during bad storms.

“I’m originally from Buffalo, so not having a basement to go to during a tornado concerned me,” Miller said. “I think people who aren’t from here can sometimes panic during these severe storms.”

Miller’s concerns are justified. But experts such as meteorologist John Quagliariello from the National Weather Service in Columbia offers reassurance, noting how the region is unlikely to see the most destructive tornadoes.

But threats still exist.

“We don’t typically see the destructive EF4, EF5-type tornadoes here,” Quagliariello said. “But, certainly tornadoes could, you know, pose a problem in terms of property damage and injuring people.”

Basements offer quick and reliable protection from tornadoes. Other locations can provide people with similar shelter and a sense of security during severe storms, according to the National Weather Service.

“One is usually on the lowest floor in an interior room of their home or business,” Quagliariello said. “You want to put as many outside walls between you and the tornado (as you can). … You want to stay away from those external doors, windows and walls.”

Preparation is key in any severe weather circumstance. Residents can only be prepared if meteorologists first do their job, Quagliariello said.

“We utilize many tools for assessing the environment,” Quagliariello said. “One thing that our Doppler radar does is allow us to see the winds inside of the storm. So we’re looking to see any signs of rotation. And once we see that rotation developing, we try to get the warning out before the tornado actually develops so people have time to seek safe shelter.”

Technology helps warn people in adequate time, but educating the public about severe weather safety is necessary to ensure proper precautions are being taken. Some residents lack the distinction between a tornado warning and a watch.

“I know one is more severe than the other, but that’s about it,” Miller said. “Whenever I get an alert, I just assume a tornado is expected in the area.”

Miller’s confusion exemplifies the importance of learning tornado terminology, the National Weather Service says as part of its safety outreach. 

A watch is typically issued over a large area for several hours – usually between three and six, Quagliariello said. It means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form, based on the NWS’s assessment of the environment.

“A warning actually means that we’ve either seen (an) indication that one is forming on radar or actually have confirmation that there’s a tornado on the ground,” Quagliariello said. “So where a watch means ‘be prepared,’ warning means ‘take action, get to your shelter and get to a safe location.’”

Tornado warnings and watches have become much more streamlined with smartphones, thanks to services like the University of South Carolina’s Carolina Alert and NWS alerts. But relying on a single notification method can be risky, Quagliariello said.

“Don’t rely on one method,”  he said. “And something like tornado warnings, everyone’s cell phones tend to activate now. But, you know, there’s been times that cell towers went down – people didn’t get it.”