You might remember from your 5th-grade lessons how tornadoes form and the destruction they cause. But, are you sure what you learned way back is enough?
There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about tornadoes that have caused people injuries and even resulted in a loss of life. So, why not clear out this misinformation?
US Safe Rooms offers the following information to teach you some facts you may not know about tornadoes.
– Tornadoes Don’t Have a Season
Yes, we may refer to the busiest time of the year as the tornado season. But tornadoes can form at any time of the year. More often, they occur during spring and fall, hence the term.
– Tornadoes Can Destroy Big Cities
While tornadoes don’t typically develop in larger cities, the reason for that is that the U.S. has a smaller percentage of metropolitan areas than that of the country’s rural areas. Nevertheless, tornadoes can occur in populated, urban areas, and wreak just as much havoc. An example of this is the cities that fall in the Tornado Alley, which experience tornado damage almost every year.
– Tornadoes Can Travel Over Any Type of Land (And Water)
Just because you usually see tornadoes ravaging large open fields, it doesn’t mean they can’t do the same for rugged lands and higher elevations. Tornadoes aren’t controlled by the land, but by the warm and cold air pressure. So, there’s nothing to hinder their path, not even water. In that case, tornadoes become waterspouts, which can switch back to being tornadoes as soon as the twister rotates onto land.
– Staying Beneath a Bridge or an Overpass Will Not Protect You
It’s about as dangerous as standing in an open field. When tornadoes pass over a bridge, the wind of the tornado whips up the area underneath, taking up more speed. As that happens, things (including people, unfortunately) are swept up and passed up the spout of the tornado. The safest method in handling a tornado is to find a deep ditch and to lie down flat while covering your hands with your hands or even your coat.
– Opening a Window Won’t Do Anything to Protect You
It was previously believed that if a tornado comes near your house, the air inside will get pulled out because of the exterior pressure, causing the house to explode. That’s why some people keep their home widows open during a tornado watch. However, that doesn’t do much in alleviating pressure. You only give debris and wind a bigger portal through which it can come inside.
Protecting Yourself From Tornadoes
Here’s the most significant fact of all: when protecting yourself from a tornado, the best place isn’t under your bed or even your basement, but an interior room within the house.
For those living in states in tornado alley such as Texas or Oklahoma, that interior room is usually a tornado shelter. Many cities, including Arlington, Dallas, and Rowlett, encourage people to install tornado shelter safe rooms in their homes to protect them from harm.
So, why not opt for the choice yourself?
US Safe Rooms offers tornado shelter rooms in Texas and Oklahoma with installation services for a very affordable price. Get in touch with us, and buy the right size room for your home. Stay safe and protected.
