Lascassas is an unincorporated community northeast of Murfreesboro along Lascassas Pike, with farms, older farmhouses, newer homes on large lots, and a good number of manufactured homes. Storms here can arrive fast across open country, and rural roads mean help can take longer to arrive. The right shelter depends a lot on what kind of home you live in.
If you live in a manufactured home
The National Weather Service is clear: manufactured and mobile homes offer little protection from tornadoes, even when tied down, and occupants should leave for a sturdy shelter when a warning is issued. That makes a shelter on the property, a short walk away, especially valuable:
- An above-ground safe room on its own concrete pad beside the home. No digging into rock, and a door at ground level.
- An in-ground shelter close by, where the soil is deep enough above the limestone.
Plan the path: short, lit at night, and clear of anything that could fall on it. Practice going there with everyone in the house.
Farmhouses
Older farmhouses here often sit on crawl spaces, with no slab to anchor an indoor safe room. The usual answers are a safe room on a new pad near the back door, a garage shelter if there's an attached garage with a suitable slab, or an in-ground shelter in the yard. An old root cellar is rarely built to modern tornado standards, especially the door.
Public shelter
Rutherford County has opened its Lascassas public safety building on Lascassas Pike as a public storm shelter during tornado watches. That can be a lifesaver, but only if you go early, while a watch is in effect, not when a warning is already sounding. Pets aren't generally allowed (service animals are). Check county announcements to know when it's open.
Alerts that wake you up
Middle Tennessee tornadoes often strike at night. Keep a NOAA weather radio with battery backup by the bed, and make sure phone emergency alerts are on. The county also encourages residents to sign up for its emergency alert service.
Permits and registration
Permits in Lascassas go through Rutherford County. After installation, ask Rutherford County Emergency Management whether you can register your shelter so responders know to check it.
Get a quote
Tell us your ZIP code, the type of home, and how many people need space. One installer who covers Lascassas will contact you. See the cost guide.
Common questions
Is a tied-down mobile home safe in a tornado?
No. The National Weather Service advises leaving manufactured and mobile homes for a sturdy shelter during a tornado warning, even if the home is anchored.
Can a safe room go on a new pad next to a manufactured home?
Yes. Above-ground safe rooms are often installed on a new reinforced concrete pad built to the manufacturer's anchoring requirements.
When should I go to the public shelter?
During a tornado watch, before any warning. Driving during a warning is dangerous.