Myth: "Opening windows will equalize air pressure and prevent an explosion"

Fact: Most experts agree that tornado-force winds will take care of opening the windows for you. Forget this old advice, and use your time to take cover immediately!

Myth: "Go to the Southwest Corner of your Basement"

Fact: Some studies suggest this might actually be the most dangerous place in your basement. If a tornado hits from the southwest, it could push debris into that area. The absolute best place to go is under the stairway that leads to your basement. The stairs will protect you from any debris that may fall into the basement. If you don’t have a basement, go to an interior bathroom or closet on the lowest floor of your home. Remember to always protect your neck and head.

Myth: “Tornadoes never strike big cities"

Fact: In the past several years, tornadoes have roared through several major cities including; Miami Florida, Nashville Tennessee and Fort Worth Texas. Of course Louisville was hit by a particularly large and powerful tornado on April 3, 1974. Despite folklore, no city or town has "Natural Protection" from a tornado.

Myth: “The low pressure a tornado creates will cause buildings to explode.”

Fact: Scientific evidence shows this is not true. In fact, in particularly strong tornadoes, violent winds and debris slamming into buildings will cause them to be destroyed well before the center of the storm, where the lowest pressure is, reaches it.

Myth: “Tornados only occur in the spring months.”

Fact: Most tornados do occur during the months from March to June and from 3 to 9 PM. However, tornados have been recorded in every month and at all times of the day and night.

Myth: “Areas near rivers, lakes and mountains are safe from tornadoes.”

Fact: No place is safe from tornadoes. In the late 1980s, a tornado swept through Yellowstone National Park, leaving a path of destruction up a 10,000 ft. mountain.

Two places you don’t want to be during a tornado are mobile homes and automobiles. Mobile homes offer no protection from the ferocious winds of a tornado. In fact nearly 40% of all tornado deaths occur in mobile homes. If you live in a mobile home, be sure to have a designated safe place to go to before the tornado warning is issued. If you're caught outdoors during a tornado, don't try to outrun it in your car. A tornado can change directions quickly. You should seek shelter indoors. If that isn't possible, get out of your car and duck down in the lowest spot you can find, such as a ditch or gully. Because a tornado doesn't suck objects up, but rather blows them around at speeds, which can easily exceed 300mph, a highway underpass is not safe since it leaves you exposed to flying debris. During these devastating storms, even the smallest items caught in its furry such as roof shingle parts, glass fragments, wood splinters and the like are bullets in the wind causing serious or even fatal injuries. Staying low to avoid this debris is the key to survival if caught outdoors.