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"Downtowns are protected from tornados." |
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Yeah, Right! Just ask the residents of Fort Worth, Texas. |
Or, ask the residents of Shreveport (downtown tornado in 2000), Salt Lake City (1999), Miami (1998), or Nashville (1998) if downtown areas are protected from tornados. The weather myth quote above was told to a new employee (who had just moved to Fort Worth from California) by her boss (who was raised in Fort Worth) just five months before the tornado hit the downtown area Mar 28, 2000.
The myth comes from the false belief that "it hasn't happened before, so it will not happen now". Well, it has happened before (Grand Island, Neb., 1992; Lubbock, Tex., 1970; Waco, Tex., 1953) and will again. Downtowns of large cities are no more protected from tornados than are the plains of Kansas.
If a tornado approaches, follow these safety rules... |
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In homes and buildings (including office buildings), go to an interior part of the lowest level such as closets, bathrooms or interior halls. Get under something sturdy. |
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Don't even think about trying to escape from a tornado in your vehicle. Cars want to fly in tornados and they do not make very good airplanes. Your are much, much safer in your house. |
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Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls!! |
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Abandon trailers and mobile homes and get into substantial shelter. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or ravine with your hand shielding your head.
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