Tornado Safety Myths and Thinking Ahead For Your Own Family

Our family was deeply saddened by the tornado damage and lives lost in Oklahoma, feeling helpless I don't know what else to do except blog about it. Sharing with others sometimes helps to make me feel better.
The deadly tornado that devastated Moore, Okla. on Monday serves as a tragic reminder of just how dangerous twisters can be -- and how misunderstood. Here is some more information from across the web that I found via the Huffington Post.

Six more dangerous misconceptions about tornadoes:

• Misconception: It's a good idea to open the windows in your home -- in order to "equalize pressure" as a tornado approaches. In fact, houses do not "explode" when tornadoes pass over them. Opening the windows wastes precious time that would be better spent finding shelter, according to the NWS website.
• Misconception: The southwest corner of a building is the safest place to be during a tornado. The "safe southwest corner" is a myth based on the mistaken belief that since tornadoes usually come from the southwest, debris tends to fall into the northeast side of the basement, USA Today reports.
• Misconception: Tornadoes never strike twice in same place. Tornadoes can strike at any time, no matter whether they have struck there before, according to the website Missouri Storm Aware.
• Misconception: Tornadoes don't hit big cities. Tornadoes have hit Dallas, St. Louis, Miami, and other large cities in the U.S., according to the website of the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center. And urban tornadoes may be especially dangerous, as there is more debris flying around.
• Misconception: Highway overpasses are great places to seek shelter during a tornado. In fact, seeking shelter in an overpass only increases the risk of injury and death, according to the website of the Ohio Committee For Severe Weather Awareness. Wind speeds can be higher under an overpass, and the wind direction can reverse direction as the tornado passes. Better to seek shelter in a sturdy building -- or, if you can't get to such a building in time, to lie flat in a ditch and clasp your hands behind your head for protection from flying debris.
• Misconception: It's easy to outrun a tornado. Tornadoes can move at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, according to the NOAA website. It's better to abandon your vehicle and seek shelter than to attempt to drive away from a nearby storm.

Teach your family about all weather conditions and what they can do, have a safe spot to flee to, talk about this before you are faced with a life changing event like a tornado. Include your pets in the plans also. Pack a bug out bag with all your family's medications, essentials, extra clothes etc. in case you loose precious items or you have to leave your house to go to a shelter. Make a list of phone numbers of nearby relatives in case you can't find your cell phone or phone numbers. Think ahead!

Be stay safe and pray for all those families in Oklahoma that are suffering loss today!