@Beckdawrek: Better peace of mind with a shelter like that, for sure.
@jz78817: I had the same situation (no basement) when I lived in a town home years ago. One bathroom on the first floor was the safest place in the house. It wasn’t much comfort.
@Broomstick: My takeaway from this thread is not to rely on the freight train sound - and it’s interesting (and makes sense) why the sound happens.
@nearwildheaven: Extra scary if you’re eating out like that. Glad the restaurant was quick thinking to best protect its patrons.
All: I appreciate your contributions to this discussion. I’m learning a lot!
Another person without a basement or cellar. When I hear the sirens, I shrug and think “Well, hope it doesn’t come here”. Maybe go into the hallway and wait for it to fall on me.
My backup plan is to wrap myself in a mattress and duck into the bathtub. I think emergency full-body airbag suits should be a thing.
we don’t get the dirt polishers here like they do in, say, Kansas which would take down a building like mine.
Home Depot has shelter pods you can buy. I think the would fit in a closet.
I’ve thought about that.
I picture me flying through thr air in a pod and landing who-knows-where. Nope. Not me.
They’re meant to be very firmly attached to the floor or foundation of your house. They’re not intended to turn into personal TARDISes.
I saw an old documentary about that. Poor girl landed on a woman, (killing her) and later had to kill her sister too to try to get back home.
I nearly had a panic attack thinking of that.
@LSLGuy, I live in a log cabin. A big log cabin. I can feel those log landing and smushing me and my pod flat or hiding me from rescuers.
My phobias have no bounds.
With any luck you’ll just have one small bit of log land on your leg trapping you. Then the raccoons will come by to slowly eat your liver and other delectable bits.
You’re welcome. 
That sounds about as safe as climbing into the refrigerator.
Aacckkk! You evil man!
Anything for you my dear! 
Oh, cool! they really do!
LOL - and I was just thinking…
I’m originally from the Kankakee area and that was our procedure. 'Course, back then Dad would have us go around opening the windows before taking cover.
The warnings issued by the NWS seem to be by county but my local weather folks seem to be more specific, noting which areas are in the path of the serious storms.
I have yet to feel the need to shelter in my current abode. In my last apartment I came close. I was on the second floor and I got my wallet, phone, and dog and was about to go down to the common hallway on the 1st floor when the storm weakened and the warning was rescinded.
Get lawn chair and wait. In 60 years I’ve never seen one. I think I heard one though at our last house. Sitting in my chair watching TV and the loud train sound came by…crazy.