Every time a hurricane strikes somewhere, there are those who are completely amazed and caught off guard. They underestimate the power of the storm, the extent of damage, and the potential danger. Usually, this is because they are new to the area, and have believed some myths about how to survive hurricanes that are just not true.
A lot of the myths concerning hurricanes have to do with how to prepare your home or business beforehand. Taping windows was one of the most popular myths around for a good many years. Crisscrossing tape on the glass was presumably a deterrent for breakage. Actually, it does little in 100 plus wind speeds, and the only method that may keep damage from occurring has been to put plywood or metal shutters over windows.
Another myth is that mobile homes can be tied down. If a hurricane can destroy large buildings, with foundations, composed of brick, wood, or stone, no amount of tie downs will keep a mobile home stable. Opening windows, to allow the wind to go through the house has been a hurricane, as well as a tornado, myth that has been around for a long time. Those who know, now tell us that the best method is to keep the wind out in the first place, and keep it out.
Those living in high rise apartments sometimes feel safer, believing that the storm surge is not going to impact them personally. However, since wind speeds increase at higher altitudes, there is no security in living in a high rise.
People, who find themselves in trouble during a hurricane, are sometimes those who either underestimate the force of the wind, or feel that they can do nothing about it and fail to take precautions. Some people feel that they can not prevent their homes from being destroyed, so they simply do nothing. Actually, shuttering windows, taking any objects, that may fly around, out of your yard, and building all new builds with hurricane grade materials and construction methods, may very well prevent extensive damage.
Many people mistakenly believe that either a major hurricane will never happen where they live, or that if it does, someone else will come to their rescue. They also believe that they do not need to evacuate the area because there are shelters designed for that purpose. If history has taught us anything, it’s that, in an emergency situation, everyone needs to be responsible for their own lives and the lives of their families. Hurricanes, can, and do happen, and sometimes it is necessary to evacuate. Also, it may not always be possible to get to a hurricane shelter, which may already be overcrowded and in danger itself.
Before a hurricane strikes, everyone needs to investigate what they need to do, and what actually will benefit them in a disaster. In any hurricane area, the worst thing to do is to believe it will never happen and fail to have a plan of survival.
http://www.stpete.org/hurricane/hurricanemyths.asp
