Joe KleinsasserThis WSU Newsline Podcast is available at
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You鈥檙e listening to the podcast edition of the 成人头条 audio newsline. Learn more about WSU 鈥� the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers 鈥� on the Web at .
Tornadoes and severe weather can be frightening, especially to motorists. 成人头条 aerospace engineer Scott Miller has studied the wind speeds required to upset vehicles, and he says it鈥檚 a good idea to respect the power of storms.
Miller: 鈥淧robably the most important thing is to make sure that you鈥檙e aware of what鈥檚 happening with the weather. Don鈥檛 take any chances. Information is power. You don鈥檛 want to to be in a position where you have to make a last-minute, seconds-count kind of decision. You want to know ahead of time and find a good shelter.鈥�
Miller says a hardened underground shelter is the best place to be during a tornado.
Miller: 鈥淭he weather service, the media, everybody tells you that a hardened, underground-type shelter is the place to be, and that is absolutely 100 percent true. Find a good hardened shelter.鈥�
When tornadoes are threatening, Miller says it鈥檚 not a good idea to try to outrun a tornado by car.
Miller: 鈥淩oad vehicles aren鈥檛 an appropriate place to shelter from storms, and trying to use the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle to avoid a tornado isn鈥檛 a good idea because sometimes it鈥檚 difficult to see where it is. You may be immersed in rain.鈥�
However, Miller says cars may offer a little protection in some circumstances.
Miller: 鈥淩oad vehicles can provide a limited amount of protection from some flying debris, and they鈥檙e not as susceptible to tipping over as some people might think they are.鈥�
Of course, if a tornado goes directly over a car, the outcome doesn鈥檛 bode well for the car and its occupants, as Miller explains.
Miller: 鈥淎 direct encounter with a very strong tornado, if you鈥檙e in a vehicle, is not going to be a pleasant ride in any way, shape, manner or form. The resulting crash is going to be unlike a traditional automobile crash. It will be catastrophic.鈥�
In an emergency, Miller says there is one option a motorist may want to consider when driving in a city.
Miller: 鈥淎 good combination in a very less than ideal situation could be using your vehicle and parking in a strong, concrete parking garage. That combination can be good, for example, if you鈥檙e on vacation and you didn鈥檛 have a shelter or somewhere to go to.鈥�
Of course, Miller says the best course of action in severe weather is to be prepared.
Miller: 鈥淭he bottom line is that you want to be aware of what鈥檚 going on with the weather and take all precautions as soon as you possibly can and as quick as you can. Find a good hardened, below-ground shelter at all cost.鈥�
Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for 成人头条.