Four Tornado Myths to Avoid
Tornados are among the most destructive storms any of us can face. If you want to stay safe, avoid these tornado myths like the plague.
To put it bluntly, tornado myths can get you killed, which is a good reason to compare what you think you know with reality. In this article, we'll take a look at four common tornado myths, and reveal the truth about each. Care to join us on our whirlwind tour of common tornado misperceptions? (Sorry, could resist.)
Myth 1: If you're in a car, seek shelter under a highway overpass.
This myth took root in the early 1990s, when a TV news crew and several other people took refuge under an overpass to ride out a weak tornado. The tornado actually passed south of them, but the footage they filmed is very intense, and has been seen by millions of people since.
Experts emphasize that it's actually very dangerous to hide under an overpass during a tornado. The structure can concentrate the winds as they squeeze through, and this increases both the chance of getting swept away and of getting hit by flying debris. At least one person has died due to this tornado myth.
Myth 2: If you open all your house's windows, it'll equalize the pressure and limit the damage from a tornado.
This seems to make sense, but the truth is that it really doesn't matter if your windows are open or closed; the pressure differential isn't all that extreme -- and do you really think a thin sheet of glass will make a difference anyway? In any case, most tornado damage is caused by wind gusts and flying debris.
This tornado myth can actually endanger both you and your home. You, because you waste time opening windows instead of seeking safety; your home, because it lets wind rush in and put pressure on your home from the inside, which can stress weak points from two directions and cause additional damage.
Myth 3: The southwest corner of the house is safest during a tornado.
This is a holdover from the first book on tornadoes, published by John Park Finley in 1887. It was based on his limited experience examining homes damaged by tornados and other high winds. This advice was published in many newspapers at the time, and was taken as gospel by millions of readers.
It wasn't until 1966 that Finley's advice was re-examined, and it was proven that the southwest corner of the house was, in fact, more likely to be damaged than any other. Nor should you bother to move furniture out of western-facing rooms as the tornado approaches, as Finley advises.
Never waste time while a tornado's approaching: get to safety immediately. You're safest in a basement or under a stairwell, heavy table or workbench; otherwise, go to a centralized, low area of the house, especially a small room like a bathroom or closet, and cover up your head.
Myth 4: All tornadoes are huge, hundreds of yards wide, and go on for miles.
Actually, most tornados are small and rope-like, 50-100 feet wide, live just a few minutes, and rarely travel more than a mile. Monster tornados do exist, but they account for less than 5% of the total reported; any other claim is simply tornado myth.
