That's similar to what we do. If its going to be iffy, the kids sleep downstairs, right outside our bedroom and literally a step or two from the basement steps. Clothes, shoes, wallets, a firearm or two, flashlights, radios", etc. are prestaged in the basement. Ive never had to do it, but trying to walk out of a destroyed house in your underwear and bare feet would not be pretty (in more ways than one)
LOL! So True!
I remember Gary England (he is "The" weather guy in OKC) during the May 3rd tornado. He was the only person who said "Get underground, you will not survive". I had never heard that out of anyone before that day and there were a lot of lives saved because of that message going out.
Underground, in my opinion, is the best option. I have family with those safe rooms but when the big storms are coming I would rather be under ground. Those twisters like to pick things up and throw them and I just don't think I want to be on the receiving end of that pitch. Still shopping for the right thing, but thinking it will end up at the top of the priorities list very soon.