Tornado deaths underscore risks of taking shelter in cars

More than a third of the 22 people killed by a tornado that smashed parts of Oklahoma and Missouri over the weekend died in cars, troubling experts who say vehicles are one of the worst places to be during a twister.

[Guess Who]

These areas are tornado prone and the majority of the people in the area have underground shelters for tornadoes...The lowest areas are the safest like a trench....

[gbr1]

Guess Who wrote:

These areas are tornado prone and the majority of the people in the area have underground shelters for tornadoes...The lowest areas are the safest like a trench....

The people taking shelter in cars may have been unable to find shelter in a trench or ditch. I was caught in a tornado 10 years ago, while getting off of a highway exit ramp. The radio gave me no warning. The ramp went over a river (no way to get out of the car and under the bridge). Dozens of cars were trapped on the bridge, while the tornado went across the road in front of us. Even if we had gotten off of the bridge, there were no trenches or ditches. Just road and chain link fence. Many roads don't have ditches. Drive down a major highway, and try to find a place to hide, with a 5 second warning.

[Kev-0]

gbr1 wrote:

<quoted text>
The people taking shelter in cars may have been unable to find shelter in a trench or ditch. I was caught in a tornado 10 years ago, while getting off of a highway exit ramp. The radio gave me no warning. The ramp went over a river (no way to get out of the car and under the bridge). Dozens of cars were trapped on the bridge, while the tornado went across the road in front of us. Even if we had gotten off of the bridge, there were no trenches or ditches. Just road and chain link fence. Many roads don't have ditches. Drive down a major highway, and try to find a place to hide, with a 5 second warning.

Agreed, we just moved here and it was a surprise how little my preconceived notion about the mid west mattered when the sirens went off.

Yet people will continue to speak from inexperience all day long at Topix.

[Leria]

gbr1 wrote:

<quoted text>
The people taking shelter in cars may have been unable to find shelter in a trench or ditch. I was caught in a tornado 10 years ago, while getting off of a highway exit ramp. The radio gave me no warning. The ramp went over a river (no way to get out of the car and under the bridge). Dozens of cars were trapped on the bridge, while the tornado went across the road in front of us. Even if we had gotten off of the bridge, there were no trenches or ditches. Just road and chain link fence. Many roads don't have ditches. Drive down a major highway, and try to find a place to hide, with a 5 second warning.

Yeah, that is VERY hard to do on any major highway, to find a place to hide from a tornado if it goes through..... we might have to start building 'tornado shelters' every mile or so on major highways in the future.

[Guess Who]

There was no warning?

[Gregory]

gbr1 wrote:

<quoted text>
The people taking shelter in cars may have been unable to find shelter in a trench or ditch...... Drive down a major highway, and try to find a place to hide, with a 5 second warning.

Then prepare to die.

[Barry Halfwhite]

The new hybrids come with a tunneling drill.

[Kev-0]

Guess Who wrote:

There was no warning?

The weather service does their best, however tornadoes are much like earth quakes.
You can only do so much to predict them, the rest is up to nature.
It would be awesome if tornadoes traveled in a straight line, and announced their arrival in advance.
Living in a state that has the most boring weather has numbed you apparently.

[lemondrop]

but how good is any warning?... ecucation 7 being prepared will save lives !

[Drift]

Kev-0 wrote:

<quoted text>
The weather service does their best, however tornadoes are much like earth quakes.
You can only do so much to predict them, the rest is up to nature.
It would be awesome if tornadoes traveled in a straight line, and announced their arrival in advance.
Living in a state that has the most boring weather has numbed you apparently.

If its a trailer park its a given.

[Kev-0]

Drift wrote:

<quoted text>
If its a trailer park its a given.

Dammit, are you saying I will need to move out of my current home to remain safe?!?

lol.

j/k

[Drift]

Kev-0 wrote:

<quoted text>
Dammit, are you saying I will need to move out of my current home to remain safe?!?
lol.
j/k

lol yup, for some reason god hates manufactured housing.

[Kev-0]

Drift wrote:

<quoted text>
lol yup, for some reason god hates manufactured housing.

who doesn't?

[guest]

gbr1 wrote:

<quoted text>
The people taking shelter in cars may have been unable to find shelter in a trench or ditch. I was caught in a tornado 10 years ago, while getting off of a highway exit ramp. The radio gave me no warning. The ramp went over a river (no way to get out of the car and under the bridge). Dozens of cars were trapped on the bridge, while the tornado went across the road in front of us. Even if we had gotten off of the bridge, there were no trenches or ditches. Just road and chain link fence. Many roads don't have ditches. Drive down a major highway, and try to find a place to hide, with a 5 second warning.

You don't have to have a ditch-- even flat ground is better than doing nothing-- or sitting dumbfounded in your car.