As long as I can remember, the National Weather Service has been advising people to abandon their car if caught outdoors during a tornado. Now it appears you might be safer staying in your car.
Researchers working on a Preparedness Subcouncil for the American Red Cross spent a year analyzing scientific reports about natural hazard safety, including studies published by the American Meteorological Society. The head of the committee, Rick Bissell from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County wrote on his blog, "We found no evidence to support the NWS suggestion that people should lie in a ditch during a tornado if they cannot find solid shelter." Furthermore, they found being in a car is safer than staying inside a mobile home.
As a result, the American Red Cross now recommends that if a tornado warning is issued you should first try and take shelter in a basement or sturdy building. If you can not take shelter indoors, you should:
- Get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt, and try to drive at right angles to the storm movement and out of the path of the tornado.
- If strong winds and flying debris occur while you are driving, pull over and park, keeping seat belts on and the engine running. Crouch down below the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket if possible.
So what does the National Weather Service recommend? I asked Gene Hafele, meteorologist in charge at the Houston-Galveston National Weather Service office. He said an official response from the NWS hasn't been issued yet.
Gene added, "We have seen many cases where automobiles are picked up and tossed around by a tornado and people killed as a result. Not really sure if getting in a ditch is a better option but that is what we have preached for many years."
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center states on their website, "Automobiles are extremely dangerous in a tornado."
So what should you do? Safety tips are merely suggestions. Every severe weather event is a unique situation. You have to quickly gauge the threat and respond accordingly. Your car might offer some protection from the storm, but it's not the best choice; you should attempt to take shelter inside a sturdy, well-built structure.
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