Many myths about tornadoes: When a tornado warning is issued, you should open all the windows in the house. MYTH A common tornado myth is that opening the windows will equalize the pressure in your house, which is thought to protect your home from damage. This is totally unnecessary and wastes valuable time in getting to your storm shelter location. If a tornado is going to pass close enough to do damage to your house, theres nothing you can do to minimize it, and making the effort is only risking your life. Tornadoes do not hit big cities. MYTH Tornadoes hit large metropolitan areas with a high relative frequency. For example, in 1999, an F-5 tornado tore through Oklahoma City, and in 2007, an F-2 tornado crossed through Atlanta, Georgia. More recently, an incredibly destructive F-4 tornado traveled from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, Alabama in the April 25-28 outbreak. Tornadoes are not diverted by any structure or terrain. Tornado strikes on large cities seem less common only because there are few cities relative to the size of the rural areas in the U.S Tornadoes dont happen in the mountains MYTH Tornadoes are not diverted by any structure or terrain. Tornadoes have been documented in the mountains, including damage from an F-3 above 10,000 feet. Tornadoes wont cross over rivers or other bodies of water. MYTH It doesnt matter whats in front of it - a tornado will pass over or through it. For example, the Natchez, Mississippi tornado of 1840 traveled directly down the Mississippi, killing hundreds of people. The best place to be during a tornado is the southwest corner of your basement. MYTH Its an old wives tale that the southwest corner of the basement is the safest, derived from the idea that most tornadoes will approach from the southwest. The truth is, no one part of your basement is any safer than another. The most important thing to remember is to stay as far away from windows as possible. More on tornado safety here. If youre in your car on the road when a tornado is approaching, hiding under an overpass is your safest bet. MYTH This is probably the worst tornado myth. Taking shelter under an overpass is one of the most dangerous things you can do when a tornado is approaching. The reason has to do with the way the tornados winds could potentially interact with the bridge structure. At the very least, taking shelter under an overpass puts you at a higher elevation with no protection from debris and winds. #cali
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 17:37:34 +0000
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