The last 2 years here in Ky we have had such bad winds (not tornado). I was sitting in my upstairs bedroom against the wall & could feel the wall move every time the 75 mph gust hit the house which was almost continual. Lost 10 trees totally uprooted in my woods & huge branches in trees around the house. That was trivial compared to the hurricanes you go through each year & it was scary enough for me. (I didn't go down to my basement).
Many around here have the auto switch generators in their home. I bought a gas powered one in the middle of a 5 day ice storm the 2nd winter I lived here not knowing how long my electric would be out (estimated 2 weeks). It is sitting in my garage since then & not sure if it even works now. (13 years ago).
Did the tornado thing growing up summers in Kansas but this all was a foreign concept preparing for bad weather we never experienced in Calif.
I can totally understand your anxiety level each year