Top 10 Hurricane Myths Debunked
Featured, Safety and Security by Joe Cuhaj
Even with the amount of attention hurricanes have received in recent years, there are still a number of misconceptions surrounding them. Here are the top 10 myths and the truth behind them.
10. Only coastal areas are at risk from hurricanes.
While the drama of a hurricane crashing into a coastal area makes compelling front page news, the effects are felt far inland. In fact, strong winds, heavy rain, tornadoes, and inland flooding can spread hundreds of miles from the coast, leaving extensive damage and death in their wake. Estimates by the National Hurricane Center of the effects of Tropical Storm Allison on the city of Houston, far removed from where the storm made landfall, is estimated at $4.8 billion.
9. A storm surge is the deadliest part of a hurricane.
A storm surge is a wall of water pushed ashore as the center of a hurricane moves on land. While a storm surge can be deadly, more people die from inland flooding and flash floods of rivers and streams because they underestimate the power of moving water.
8. The upper floors of an apartment or condominium are a safe place to ride out a storm.
This is called “vertical evacuation,” and it’s a bad idea. Wind speed increases the higher you go, which can blow out window and rip off siding. Plus, rising water could cause structural damage to the lower levels. If that’s not enough, high winds and rising water make rescue nearly impossible.
7. A powerful hurricane will wipe out my house so why bother preparing?
Yes, there is always the possibility of losing it all in a major storm, but you should still take precautions to minimize damage as much as possible by boarding up windows, removing debris that can be potential projectiles, and trimming dead or dying limbs from trees around your home. These simple actions could mean the difference between a repairable house and a total loss.
6. Since I have homeowner’s insurance, I don’t need to worry.
Most homeowner’s insurance has a high deductible for hurricane damage and does NOT cover flooding. Check your coverage well before hurricane season begins then supplement it with additional flood insurance if you’re in a flood prone area. A good reference and supplemental coverage program is the National Flood Insurance Program administered by the federal government.
5. Before a storm, fill bathtubs and sinks to use as drinking water.
While water stored in a bathtub can be used for washing clothes, bathing, or flushing toilets, it’s not considered sanitary enough for drinking. Use bottled water instead.
4. A mobile home that has ties downs is a safe place to ride out a storm.
Whether a mobile home is tied down or not, it is NEVER a safe place to ride out a hurricane. The general rule is that if a mandatory evacuation is ordered, ALL mobile home residents should head for a shelter.
3. You should crack the windows during a hurricane or tornado.
A common belief is that opening a window will equalize the pressure and keep your house from exploding during a storm, but studies show that the best way to keep your home safe is to keep the wind out. While no house is airtight, boarding and shuttering up windows and doors is the best protection during a hurricane, especially from flying debris.
2. Taping up windows will prevent them from breaking.
Tape does little to protect your windows from being destroyed by flying debris, and if they don’t break, the tape will have to be scraped off after the storm. The best protection is to cover the windows with 5/8” plywood or special hurricane shutters.
Hurricane Paths since 1851, National Hurricane Center
1. It will never happen here.
While the path of a hurricane can be hard to predict, nowhere on the Gulf or East Coast is immune as this map from the National Hurricane center illustrates. The best way to protect your life and property is to plan ahead BEFORE a storm forms then heed the warnings and advice of your local emergency management agency. And don’t forget, even if you live inland, it CAN happen to you, too.
Check out our Hurricane Help page for more information.
Further Information
- Preparing for the Worst
- Preparing for Hurricane Season
- Reinforcing a Home Against Wind Damage
- (631) Hurricane Katrina Revisit
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May 6th, 2009 at 17:45
In a couple of years, I will be moving to Florida for independent living. The list of myths and facts is very interesting, especially since my parents actually believe the myth that “a big hurricane will wipe out your house no matter what.” Therefore, they love trying to convince me to “buy a flimsy mobile home” and I allready decided that mobile homes are a total no-no for me; I choose to live in a more substantial structure, preferrably made of concrete block. But they still love to tell me that “even concrete will never, ever stand a chance in a hurricane”, which I know is blatantly false. For example, the Turkey Point Nuclear power plant just east of Homestead, Fl took a direct hit by Hurricane Andrew and survived with none more than a couple of damaged/cracked smoke stacks. But many times, I imagine my parents doing a research paper on Hurricane Andrew and saying in their paper that “the Turkey Point nuclear power plant, despite it’s solid iron, steel, and reinforced concrete construction, was shattered and violently hurled from the ground by Andrew’s winds, and the plant’s remains now lie scattered throughout an approximately 150,000 square mile area of the Gulf of Mexico.” The truth is, while I did read that there were a few concrete block homes severely damaged/destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, I also happen to know that there were many numerous concrete block homes that stood strong in Hurricane Andrew that were even directly in the path of Andrew’s worst winds.