Cart
Ready
Main Entrees
Myths about what to do during a natural disaster
You probably hear it in the workplace, in your home or out with your friends. You’ll start talking about natural disasters and someone will say, “I’ve heard it’s best to do this.” And thus the myth is continued.
There are a number of myths about how to react to a natural disaster, whether it be an earthquake, tornado or a wildfire. Here are some of them:
Stand in a doorway during an earthquake
Many people think that the doorway would be the strongest part of the structure and thus the safest place to be. However, even if this is true in your building, it might be harder than you think to get there. If the whole ground is moving, it will be hard to move in the direction you want. That’s why it’s recommended that you stop, drop and hold on. Try and get underneath something sturdy. After all, you’re more likely to get injured by falling objects and debris than by a collapsed building.
Abandon your car and lie in a ditch during a tornado
I’ll admit. I was a victim of this myth. I thought that a ditch would be a safe place to lay if there were a tornado close by. However, according to James Judge, a member of the American Red Cross’ Scientific Advisory Board, it might actually be safer in your car. He recommends staying in the car, putting on your seat belt and crouching below the window. He also says to turn on the ignition so that the airbags will deploy if the car gets hit.
- Be prepared with the Ultimate Auto Emergency Kit -
In a dangerous moment, people panic and only think of themselves
Despite what the movies show, this probably isn’t the actual case. That’s not to say that some people don’t freak out, but it’s not the overwhelming effect. Research has shown that people will begin to panic if they don’t have adequate information, perceive an immediate threat of death, feel trapped or there is a lack of leadership. While the media likes to focus on the bad that people do during a disaster (ie. looting), the majority of people are actually courteous and caring. More commonly, people will make mistakes because they begin to lose concentration but this is not panic.
Open the windows to equalize the pressure caused by a tornado
The myth is that you should open windows and doors in your home because a tornado will cause pressure in your home, making it more susceptible to damage. There are a few things that are problematic here. Many times people are injured from flying debris in a tornado and standing near a window probably isn’t the smartest thing to do. Secondly, there is no statistical data that would prove this to be true.
Taping a big X on your windows during a hurricane
Many times, people will tape large Xs on their glass windows to give them more stability during a hurricane. However, this doesn’t really help as much as you think. Even if the window breaks, the tape might just be creating larger shards of glass that could be more harmful. Again, avoid standing near windows during high-wind storms. Instead, use plywood or invest in impact-resistant windows.
- Does your family have a 72-hour kit? -
Stay and bunker down in the event of a wildfire
You often hear people say that they would rather stay and fight. However, you also hear stories about people who couldn’t do enough to fight the fire and ended up perishing in the flames. There have also been some who have said that the flames of a wildfire will overthrow you as you try and get out. It’s a high-risk gamble to stay during a mandatory evacuation. You’d rather lose your house and live than ignore the evacuation and die.
What else have you found?
Comment below and tell us what you have been surprised about during a disaster? Perhaps you found yourself doing something that you didn’t realize you were doing or saw someone survive miraculously. Share your knowledge and comment below!
Also, feel free to ask us about some advice that you’ve heard and we’ll do a follow-up round of myths!
Was surprised to find during Hurricane Irene that locations where water/ice/food were available were being posted on the internet, not broadcast on radio! Once everyone’s cell phone batteries ran out, unless you had a car charger and gas in your tank there was no internet. Not to mention, not all of us have smartphones w/ data plans. I found there is NO substitute for being prepared to be self sufficient in ANY kind of emergency. Hope for the best, be ready for the worst.
July 10th, 2012 at 10:52 pmGreat post!!! We wanted to share some lightning related myths…
- If you’ve ever heard someone say lightning never strikes the same place twice… WRONG! Lightning often strikes the same place several times during one storm.
- If you are caught outdoors and don’t have access to a strong shelter to get into or under, BE SMALL..! Do NOT lie flat on the ground since that makes you a larger target. Instead crouch down, try to stay on the balls of your feet and bend forward putting hands on your knees – esp if you feel your hair stand on end and/or feel tingly (which means lightning is about to strike!)
- If someone is struck by lightning, you CAN touch them since they do not carry electrical charge.
And one more earthquake related one…
- There has been an email floating around for years about the “Triangle of Life”, but please DO NOT pass it on. The Red Cross and other officials discourage using this technique esp in U.S. and other developed countries with good building codes. As The Ready Store suggested above, the best thing to do during an earthquake is .. Drop, Cover (get under a table or something sturdy, if possible) and Hold on!
Keep up the great work guys!
j (& B)
July 11th, 2012 at 1:53 pmHaving lived in the backcountry of San Diego, CA most of my life, I know about wildfires, up close and personal. What you should do depends on whether or not you were prepared. Make your property fire resistant. Clear brush, trim trees to at least 6 feet off the ground, keep your driveway passable and at least 15 feet wide with an area large enough for a fire truck to turn around, and have an escape plan!! Many homes that burned to the ground in our area did none of the above. Remember that if the fire crew has no way to get out safely, they will not come in in most cases. That is a lesson in common sense-They won’t let themselves be trapped and neither should you. For your own safety and that of the firefighters do not refuse to evacuate, they need to concentrate on fighting the fire, and they should not ever be in a position of risking their lives rescuing people who should have left.
July 12th, 2012 at 12:06 pmLive in SFL and after Hurricane Andrew I actually saw concrete light poles impaled through the sides of CBS constructed homes. Its safe to say the masking tape “x” on the windows wouldn’t help!
July 15th, 2012 at 8:29 pmThe first time I heard that you should leave your car and go to a ditch during a tornado, I thought “OH NO!”. Play with a children’s toy top. It WILL go to any groove and stay there til it dies. You do NOT want to be in that groove! I like the seatbelt, stay-in-your-car idea, if I MUST be in a car.
July 15th, 2012 at 9:07 pmI was in Sayre, PA about two years ago. I was delivering medication to a nursing home and I kept hearing tornado warnings. But the meds had to be delivered so I kept going. The clouds kept getting darker and darker and then sun was almost completely blotted out. This tornado formed on the road in front of my maybe 300 yards away. It was so quick. I can tell you that you’re never prepared to see that. At first I was just in awe. I didn’t even react because I was too amazed. Then the van started getting buffeted by wind and I realized I was in serious danger. I turned that van around and took off. I got very lucky. Now every time I hear about a tornado warning, I do the smart thing and stay away.
August 20th, 2012 at 4:07 amIn the event of terrorists taking over an aircraft (on the runway when parked) If there is a rescue operation; duck and cover your head and PULL YOUR KNEES UP WHILE TRYING TO KEEP YOUR FEET AND ANKLES OFF THE FLOOR. Bullets tend to track low, stats show that in this situation many of the hostages have have received wounds to feet, ankles and lower legs from stray rounds.
Stay motionless, the good guys might think you are a terrorist trying make an aggressive move if you stand up. Additionally, the good guys will treat EVERYONE like a terrorist until they verify your identity. So don’t take it personal if you are handled roughly by the good guys, they are just doing their job to ensure everyone’s safety.
August 20th, 2012 at 5:30 amHaving lived through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, I have some advice about communicating after a natural disaster. Cell towers may be destroyed and the volume of cellular calls may prevent your calls from getting through, so rely on texting instead and try to find a land line with a dial tone if you need to make a call. Remember that if you are trying to call a cell phone, they are probably having the same issues.
August 20th, 2012 at 8:25 amive blogged concerns on facebook
but most detail is on your site but doesnt see what we all generally do as the same as your outlying regions perhaps
but perhaps your areas are more populated than i knew then too
weve very little grren space left
and
we are unsure of the casue of our atmospheric problems but
a hole in the atmosphere was a worry once
and i dont thinnk its gone away
oxygen levels are down in the area
and so is the carrying cappacity of some quite healthy individuals
o2 carrying that which in turns make carrying heavy items more difficult
o2 doent do it alone for long and diet and veg sometimes a glut and sometimes a short supply
and suppliments
are important i think at this time
but that isnt my current sales area !!
August 20th, 2012 at 3:29 pmPlease please do not keep repaeating the “myth” that people should get under tables or under anything during an earthquake. Unless that table is a very hard large table that will take a heavy hard hit, getting under a table will get someone killed. The best place for anyone caught in an earthquake is beside a large piece of furniture. The furniture will take the hit and the space next to the furniture and three feet out may provide enough space for someone to huddle down low and be somewhat protected during an earthquake and may give you the space to stay until you can be rescued. Getting under matresses may give you some shielding from falling objects but if anything heavy falls on the mattress or whatever you have over you may trap you underneath it or could suffocate or kill you. Significant studies have been made. Get beside refrigerators, couches large pieces of furniture.
August 21st, 2012 at 10:06 pm