Top Twelve Hurricane Myths ...

Separating Truth from Fiction

Being hurricane savvy is learning not to rely on chance, false information or myths that have been woven into the science of hurricanes and preparedness. Here are twelve myths and the truth from the experts at the National Weather Service in Ruskin, Florida, and Pinellas County Emergency Management.

When faced with a choice about how you, your family or business will handle the upcoming hurricane season, deal only with the truth.

As Pinellas County prepares for the hurricane season, here are the top twelve hurricane myths, along with reasons why they could be hazardous to your health—or even fatal:

1. MYTH: Past hurricanes always seemed to miss us. It will never happen here.
FACT: The chances Florida will experience four major hurricanes again in one year like it did in 2004 are remote. The chance of one or two strong storms slamming into the county is very real. And if a major hurricane hits Tampa Bay, it won’t matter if there is only one storm this season. That one could be enough to cause serious damage. Be Prepared!

2. MYTH: Hurricanes do not impact inland counties.
FACT: Hurricane winds and rain affect large areas. Just ask our Polk County residents (impacted three times in 2004) or your neighbors who evacuated to Orlando from Hurricane Charley. Inland flooding was a major problem in our region from exiting storms Frances and Jeanne. Devastating views of destruction left inland by last year’s Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast show the widespread impact hurricanes can have inland.

3. MYTH: There is nothing we can do. If the hurricane comes, it will blow everything away.
FACT: Take the time to protect your home and chances are, you will suffer far less damage in a hurricane. Shuttering windows, bracing garage and entry doors and bringing in yard items may mean the difference between destruction and minor damage.

4. MYTH: Protecting my home is too expensive.
FACT: Protection can get expensive, but cost-effective options are available. Hurricane panels and shutters along with newly developed screen, mesh and fabric products can protect your home and provide safety for your family.

5. MYTH: Why protect our homes? That is what insurance is for so why bother?
FACT: Insurance is fine, but a house that survives a hurricane is better. It is safer for your family and easier to recover. Currently, thousands of families in Florida are still displaced because of the previous hurricanes.

6. MYTH: Leave your windows open on one side of the house to reduce the “pressure.”
FACT: That is a long held falsehood. If you let wind in your house, it’s going to have to get out. The force will find the weakest link and explode it.

7. MYTH: Tape your windows to prevent them from breaking and flying into the house.
FACT: Putting masking tape on your windows is a waste of time that should be spent on real protection. Window shutters made of metal or at least 5/8 inch plywood and fastened correctly are a much better idea.

8. MYTH: With tie-downs and storm shutters, my mobile/manufactured home is safe.
FACT: Mobile/manufactured homes – even new ones – cannot withstand more than minimal hurricane winds. Use tie-downs and shutters on your mobile home, but have evacuation plans, regardless of where you live in Pinellas County.

9. MYTH: You need to buy a chainsaw.
FACT: If you don’t already know how to use a chainsaw safely, hurricane cleanup is not the time to try to teach yourself. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports more Americans kill or injure themselves after the storm during cleanup than as a direct result of the hurricane winds and flooding. Put safety first even if you are experienced in handling a chainsaw. Read the owner’s manual before beginning. Wear a hardhat and ear as well as eye protection. Never work alone but make sure pets and family members are away from you. Wear sturdy shoes and gloves.

10. MYTH: The storm surge is only going to be 15 to 20 feet at worst. My condo is on an upper floor. I’m riding the storm out here.
FACT: Escaping the rising storm surge by going to the upper stories of buildings, called vertical evacuation, is a bad idea. Wind speeds increase the higher you go, so you may be evacuating into a more dangerous place. Plus storm damage and flooding will make getting help to you nearly impossible after the storm passes. The images of Gulf Coast residents being airlifted off their roofs days after the storm passed. If you are told to evacuate, trust the experts and leave.

11. MYTH: We get high winds in our summer thunderstorms. A hurricane can’t be much worse.
FACT: While summer thunderstorms can produce wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour, the winds of a major hurricane can be twice as strong – or even stronger. And these winds will be sustained for hours, much longer than a brief thunderstorm. Remember, each time the wind speed doubles, the force it exerts is four times as strong. Even a tropical storm can do considerable damage to structures and topple trees.

12. MYTH: The weather looks great, why do I need to evacuate? I’m going to wait until weather looks bad before I leave for a shelter.
FACT: This could be one of the most dangerous decisions you can make. Storm paths are extremely unpredictable and waiting until the last minute can leave you with no place to go to escape a storm. Evacuation orders are given based on the best information available and are issued early enough to allow sufficient time for people to get to shelters or other safe locations. Shelters are to be considered a place of last resort. Going to a friend's or relative’s home in a non-evacuation area makes a lot of sense. Don’t take chances with your life.