You know, I've only lived in Texas for about 12yrs, and I'm not really sure why they don't have basements down here.
We had them in the Northeast and I loved having them. I think when General San Jacinto surrendered to Colonel Santie Annie, I think the stipulations of the surrender were unconditional laying down of arms, the returning his wooden leg, a Democracy installed with a cool state flag, and no basements.
Although I wasn't a history major, so my details may be sketchy and totally inaccurate. I may or may not have been eyeing up the girl in the front row of class during that lesson in 5th grade.
Now, we do have the occasional tornado alert, so we may put in a shelter in the garage that's capable of withstanding an F5. But in talking to the locals, it is extremely rare that one touches down here. I asked the local lumber yard guy here, I says to the guy, I says, "Hey, do yous guys get those freakin' tornados and stuff here? " Once he pulled out his "NY/NJ accent to Texas speak" translation book everyone is issued down here, he tipped his hat and with a piece of straw in the corner of his mouth, replied, "Yyyep..."
So, we'll see. Our neighbors are installing one that could probably withstand Alpha Centauri slamming into the Earth, so we may just run over to their place. It even has satellite TV in there!
Cheers
Dave