Warren Faidley
Supporter
I was unable to find a previous thread regarding this interesting subject, so mods. please move if already discussed.
Seems there is controversy mounting after the American Red Cross altered its safety instructions for seeking shelter while in vehicles.
I was told a few weeks ago that during some kind of tornado threat, Mike Bettes told people to "either drive away" or "stay in their vehicles." I need to make it clear I did not hear the statements myself and I do not know the circumstances that lead to such comments if true. Nor do I know if his personal experiences played played a part in the statements. This is not an attack on Bettes, but it draws attention to the overall subject.
The NWS still advises to abandon vehicles and find a ditch, while the American Red Cross is suggesting to stay in the vehicle if no other shelter is available. (I'm still looking over the new material).
The obvious problems I have with these new guidelines are 1: people will become confused and think a vehicle is safer than a lot of better sheltering options. B: The average person lacks the experienced to drive away from a tornado. C: This may lead to dangerous mass evacuations by vehicle (as with El Reno). D: The average person cannot judge tornado strength or behavior, thus they may think dust swirls under a funnel is OK and stay in their vehicles only to find a violent tornado on the ground seconds later.
The public already has a subconscious / distorted view that vehicles are safe near tornadoes after watching a long list of rolling coffin chasers who incorrectly claim their vehicles can "drive into a tornado with few problems." (Sorry, ground effects are lost when the vehicle is struck by debris or winds creep under the frame, e.g., pavement scouring).
Here is a reference article from TWC:
http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_19417.html
W.
Seems there is controversy mounting after the American Red Cross altered its safety instructions for seeking shelter while in vehicles.
I was told a few weeks ago that during some kind of tornado threat, Mike Bettes told people to "either drive away" or "stay in their vehicles." I need to make it clear I did not hear the statements myself and I do not know the circumstances that lead to such comments if true. Nor do I know if his personal experiences played played a part in the statements. This is not an attack on Bettes, but it draws attention to the overall subject.
The NWS still advises to abandon vehicles and find a ditch, while the American Red Cross is suggesting to stay in the vehicle if no other shelter is available. (I'm still looking over the new material).
The obvious problems I have with these new guidelines are 1: people will become confused and think a vehicle is safer than a lot of better sheltering options. B: The average person lacks the experienced to drive away from a tornado. C: This may lead to dangerous mass evacuations by vehicle (as with El Reno). D: The average person cannot judge tornado strength or behavior, thus they may think dust swirls under a funnel is OK and stay in their vehicles only to find a violent tornado on the ground seconds later.
The public already has a subconscious / distorted view that vehicles are safe near tornadoes after watching a long list of rolling coffin chasers who incorrectly claim their vehicles can "drive into a tornado with few problems." (Sorry, ground effects are lost when the vehicle is struck by debris or winds creep under the frame, e.g., pavement scouring).
Here is a reference article from TWC:
http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_19417.html
W.
Last edited by a moderator: