I was on #lanekent, and we got to discussing basements (people were watching desperate housewives), and how there are tons of places in the US that don't have them.
It got me thinking, what if there was a tornado or hurricane in Metropolis in season one or two? Where would Lois and Clark hide out during the storm? Would Clark be able to convince Lois he would be staying the storm elsewhere? If he had to stay with Lois for some reason, would there be a forced revelation so he could go save someone?

In a city such as Metropolis, there would be emergency shelters in building basements, underground garages, even subway stations.

but don't they also have all those "lead lined fallout shelters" leftover from world war two (I think or it could just be "the war")


can't remember which ep that line was from.
but was used in lots of fanfic over the years, so may either be general knowledge, or etc....

The fallout shelters would be part of the emergency shelter system - they would date from the cold war, the 50s.

woops, my bad... wrong war....

here down under we neither built shelters for the world wars nor the cold war(s)...

so my knowledge of bomb shelters comes from reading novels set in England during ww2...

thnks for clearing that up for me

Most Cold War era fallout shelters have not been kept up for many years now. In most stored food is now
out of date and unusable or no longer there, no medical supplies, the infracture in terrible shape, etc. This was briefly
mentioned in an early episode of the wonderful tv
show Jericho last year. (Which is coming back for a second season February 12.)
Patti

Oops, that was supposed to say infrastructure.

For most of us, if we're going to use fallout shelters in a story, it'll be because they've been abandoned and lost track of, making them good hideouts for criminal activities in Metropolis.

But an emergency shelter (a safe place from a storm or other disaster) will have some minimal provisions - Northwest public schools have emergency kits tucked away with blankets, food, first aid kits and the like for use in the event of a major emergency where the kids can't get home. (Lois and Clark are stuck in a public school with a bunch of kids during a blizzard? )

I do remember a certain third richest man in the world who had his own shelter built in Metropolis. As luck would have it, it is well-maintained, stocked with an abundance of food and the decor is considered lovely by working class women.

Elisabeth

Tornadoes usually are fast and furious and are over rather quickly so Lois and Clark wouldn't be hiding long - if they even had time to hide. Sometimes there are warnings but it's a rare event when you can actually say a tornado is specifically coming your way. That's unlike a hurricane where you almost always have more of a warning, and, of course, they last much longer. If someone were to write a story, I'd think a hurricane would give a greater opportunity for Lois and Clark to be together longer. Tornadoes are less likely in the northeast US, also, but that doesn't mean they don't happen in those less likely areas. The one that hit Salt Lake City a few years ago is proof of that. (And, oh yes, I know SLC isn't in the northeast US - giggles.)

I'd like to see Lois and Clark hunkered down together to ride out a hurricane. We have done that several times in Florida in the last few years. It is exciting and very scary.

I know it's not a Lois revelation but When the World Finds Out by CC Aiken is excellent and deals with this premise.

Carol [who has visions of people running for shelter in Independence Day where Clark gets dragged along rather than something probably more 'known' than a hurricane or asteroid]

Thanks for the link to C.C. Aiken's story. I enjoyed it very much. With so much to choose from, I might have missed it without your link.

So you want a story about a tornado hitting Metropolis and forcing L&C into compromising positions?

*grins widely*

I'll be right back!

The Little Tornado.

That sounds like the promise of a story, Little Tornado!

Can't wait


How many snowstorm stories are out there when Lois and Clark are trapped in a snow storm? Seems like even the deep south is having a snowy night.

I opened my big mouth again. Fine, I'll do one. Give me some time.

I just realised that you're going to get a story about a tornado hitting Metropolis from me - with my nick.

I'd better make this one extra good then g fic or n fic?

Cheers, The Little Tornado.

G fic or nfic you ask, well nific is always a great read, but I am betting either one from you would be a wonderful story.

Can't wait for this one!