4. The Safest Place During a Tornado is Under an Overpass
A deadly myth that has become popular especially on social media and via viral videos is the belief that highway overpasses offer safe refuge during a storm. Strong warnings against this practice come from meteorologists and disaster management authorities, who say it actually raises the likelihood of harm or death.
The conviction that overpasses provide protection most likely derives from a widely shared movie showing individuals surviving a tornado under an overpass. But this was an extraordinary situation and not an advised safety precaution. Actually, the small opening under a flyover can produce a wind tunnel effect, possibly raising wind speeds and increasing the chance of debris strike.
Furthermore, hiding under a flyover can lead to traffic congestion and prevent rescue vehicles, therefore endangering perhaps more lives. Furthermore exposing people to more flying debris and higher wind speeds than ground level is the elevated position of a flyover.
If stuck in a vehicle during a tornado, meteorologists advise that driving to the closest strong building and seeking cover there is the best course of action. Should that prove unworkable, it’s advisable to pull over, get as low as the car allows, and cover your head. Laying flat in a low-lying region away from traffic is a last option better than hiding behind a flyover.
Public awareness of this issue is vital as the belief about flyover safety still exists and might have fatal results during strong storms.