Moore, OK

Ok, some of you know that we are getting ready to move, but did you know that we are moving to Moore, OK? Did you also know that it was struck by a tornado (actually a series of tornados) yesterday? Over 300 houses totally destroyed and another 1200 with damage. No power in much of the area.

Now, aside from the obvious question (Is it wise to move there?), what does this do to the housing market? Do people stay in hotels until their claims are processed and their houses fixed/rebuilt? Do they usually just buy a new house? We're supposed to be going out there in two weeks to find a house and I have no idea what to expect.

What do you think?

I'd say it's gonna be hard as heck to find a house!
Don't like Tornados or Tornado Alley! Do you wonder if someone might be trying to tell you something? I'd have to stop and really think hard, although I don't know your circumstances. Good luck to you whatever you decide:)

Carla, I was just thinking about you today, and wondering where in Oklahoma you were moving. Oh, my. I know yours is a military family and you are being transferred there -- does your question about the wisdom of moving to Moore mean that you have an option? I don't know much about real estate, or the logistics of moving to this devastated town in two weeks' time, but I will certainly pray for all of you to be led according to God's will in the matter.

Or you can stay in Alabama and lose everything in an earthquake. Who would have ever thought it would be an Alabama hazard? I think you might look into the weather patterns there, because it's a fact that these things tend to happen in certain areas more than others. But the absence of a history is obviously not a guarantee you won't have the same or worse problems anywhere. You know what to do: hit your knees and ask for guidance. Follow the Leader and accept that no one knows what tomorrow will bring or take away. Fate might decide for you, as in you might not be able to find a house for some time. Or you might find one where people have decided to leave after this weather system.

Your family will be in my prayers as you work through this tough situation.

Carla, I have to agree with violabird, I'd be heavily in prayer and seeing if God is trying to tell me something! What is the reason for moving to Moore? Is there a safer place you can go?

Will be praying for God's wisdom for you and your family.

Love
Janie

If memory serves correct, Moore has been hit before, and not too many years ago. The concerns that I would have would be housing availability, affordability and insurability.

Meteorologists will tell you in no uncertain terms that geography is not a factor in where tornadoes will strike, but I'm not entirely convinced, based on personal anecdotal evidence. (We lived in Owasso OK for 15 years, which was hit by a few small tornadoes while we lived there, but the vast majority went east or north of us. I chalked it up to the nearby Verdigris Valley that I suspect somehow played into the chosen paths of the big'uns that came close, but always went on by.)

Long story short, you might look for towns nearby that haven't been hit head-on by a tornado, and look for a home there. Y'all have been and will remain in our prayers!

The Oklahoma City area was hit hard with tornados on May 3,1999. Moore was one of the worst. They showed the damage track from this storm and that one on the map. A lot of the exact same places were damaged in both storms. I think that I would look at nearby towns instead.

I have to agree with Terry, The "St. Peter Tornado" here 5 years ago seemed to have some relationship to the Minnesota River Valley. It didn't follow the river but probably got energy from it. We had strong hot south winds south of the river & the valley was cold. (This was March 29th). Just a thought. My sympathy to all who were in the paths of these storms.
Bernie

Well, the Air Force tells us when and where to move to. It's not a matter of choice for us. Moore, OK is close to Tinker AFB and that is where my husband is being transferred to. It also has the BEST school system in the Oklahoma City area, and as many of you know, my Bethany requires a school that will keep her challenged.

Of course, we are praying...all the time. For us to be in God's will is far more important than location or lodging. He will provide. I have no question of that. I am just asking questions to better understand the housing situation under these circumstances.

Thanks for all of your input. Any other thoughts?



This message was edited Saturday, May 10th 6:25 PM

If you are buying a house make sure you have one that is battened down against the storms...

and remember that you are built upon the Rock and that God is with you every step of the way! Remember: power and love and a sound mind, not fear.

You guys will do GREAT wherever God puts you.

Love
Janie

Just a note from a current Okie - my brother had just signed a contract to have a house built in Moore before the 1999 tornado. They were moving from "The Village" in the north part of OKC to Moore for one of the very reasons Carla mentions they chose Moore - school system. It took about 4 months longer to get into their new house than expected because repairing the damaged ones came first. I can't speak to cost since they already had a signed contract. Don't think the damage is near as widespread (not as many) this time as before but don't really know how long it may take. Carla, if it would be a help I would be happy to send the real estate section of the OKC newspaper to you from today's paper and next week's paper if it would help you compare what happens to the housing market - could even send one in a couple of weeks. We take the OKC paper so it would be no problem. Just drop me an e-mail if you want me to send it.

We have lived in Oklahoma now for about 16 years. Fortunately, we do not seem to be in an area that is very suspectable to storms (about 70 miles SE of OKC) but we have learned to just listen to the weather and it is seems to be headed our way - take precautions. As a suggestion, you may want to check into some of the communities and their school systems east of OKC a few miles (Harrah, Dale, McLoud, Shawnee) - think some of them have good sysems and since Tinker AFB is on the east side of OKC - commuting might not be much if any worse than coming in from Moore (southwest of OKC)

Regardless of your decision, good luck with your move.

Thanks so much for the information. We plan to come out in a couple of weeks to see what we can find. We have our eye on one house in Moore that apparently didn't get any damage. So far, it doesn't have a contract on it. Our realtor in OKC toured the house and took digital pictures, too, and emailed them to us, so we have a fairly good idea of what it looks like.

Isn't technology great?