Weather experts have revised some traditional recommendations after researching tornado-damaged buildings, he said. For example, researchers now consider the southwest corner the most dangerous because it's often struck first by winds. Instead, experts now urge people to seek shelter in a basement or in the interior of a building on the lowest level. Getting the revised safety messages across has been difficult because people often hear only part of a message, he said. Bathrooms on the perimeter of the house are the wrong place to head, he said.
Overpasses become wind tunnels, with flying debris that can injure or kill.
Drivers seeking shelter under viaducts often cause traffic jams that can endanger lives. People hold onto myths such as believing tornadoes don't cross rivers or hit cities even after storms strike, because they feel safer believing myths, he said. However, that's naive and dangerous thinking. Severe storms are a real risk anywhere in Nebraska. Above all, Dewey urges taking precautions to avoid severe weather hazards.