Post by va3css on Apr 8, 2005 15:58:34 GMT -5
Tornado myths and facts
• Myth: Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are safe from tornadoes.
• Fact: No place is safe from tornadoes, not even places of high elevation. A tornado ripped through Yellowstone National Park in the late 1980s that destroyed part of a 10,000-foot mountain.
• Myth: A tornado's low pressure causes buildings to explode as it passes.
• Fact: Violent winds and debris crashing into buildings cause the most damage to these structures.
• Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.
• Fact: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure. Leave the windows alone and immediately go to a safe place like a basement.
More Tornado facts and myths can be found at the National Severe Storms Laboratory of NOAA, or the Tornado and Lightning Myths page of Environment Canada.
• Myth: Areas near rivers, lakes, and mountains are safe from tornadoes.
• Fact: No place is safe from tornadoes, not even places of high elevation. A tornado ripped through Yellowstone National Park in the late 1980s that destroyed part of a 10,000-foot mountain.
• Myth: A tornado's low pressure causes buildings to explode as it passes.
• Fact: Violent winds and debris crashing into buildings cause the most damage to these structures.
• Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.
• Fact: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure. Leave the windows alone and immediately go to a safe place like a basement.
More Tornado facts and myths can be found at the National Severe Storms Laboratory of NOAA, or the Tornado and Lightning Myths page of Environment Canada.
