Tornado Safety Rules Have Changed

Posted by Maureen K. Fleury Mar 8, 2008

Readers of my topic must be wondering why I’ve written several articles on tornadoes. Reason being; the tornado season is now upon us.

Read my articles on Tornado Myths Explained and Tornado Myths Exposed in order to minimize injury or loss of life*.

How does misinformation get passed around?

Many new studies have been done only in the past few decades and people aren't aware of the revisions. Other theories are urban legends or fuzzy logic. I was a victim of old theories. Research has now proved them to be wrong.

I grew up in the Canadian end of Tornado Alley in Windsor Ontario. When attending elementary school, we were taught what to do in the event of a tornado. We were sometimes sent home if there was a tornado warning which means funnels have been sighted somewhere.

A tornado watch means there are prime conditions for a tornado. If caught in the classroom, we were taught to crawl under our desks to avoid flying debris. Sheltering from debris is correct but new theories prove the worst place to be is near windows. Each classroom had windows.

• Using new theories, we should have been ushered into the hallway in the middle of the building. where there are no windows.

We were taught to go into the southwest corner of the basement at home. No longer true.

• The safest place is in the middle of the basement away from windows and under a mattress or table for protection from flying debris.

We were told to keep our windows open in order to equalize pressure.

• Tornadoes strike fast so there’s no time for equalization. Windows are broken by flying debris.

Hundreds of tornadoes are sighted every year. Hoping the 2008 season is tame!

* had to publish two articles due to word count restrictions.