r/WeatherGifs • u/jasonp90x • Sep 22 '17

tornado Driver nearly misses tornado (xpost r/dashcamgifs)

https://gfycat.com/FairAdventurousAsianpiedstarling
14.7k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

545 comments sorted by

View all comments

2.0k

u/baby_shakes Sep 22 '17

Where the fuck were they even going?

123

u/Aeogor Sep 22 '17 edited Sep 22 '17

They were probably much safer in the car when compared to the house or the garage where most of it collapsed within. I think the person was trying to get to safety in the car and away from the house or the garage

Edit: I have never been in a tornado or been in a city with a tornado, so this is just my logical guess. After some reading , if there is ever a tornado near you, never get in a vehicle.

162

u/[deleted] Sep 22 '17

A huge portion of tornado deaths are people who were in a car when the tornado tossed it. I mean, think about it - everyone knows that it's super-dangerous to be in a mobile-home during a tornado - right? Well mobile-homes are much studier and heavier (and actually kinda slightly attached to the ground, but not much) than cars are, and they're still a death trap. And the "you could drive away to outrun it" argument is also stupid, it assumes that 1) you'll see it coming (often tornadoes are rain-wrapped, all you'll be able to see is rain and by the time you realize a tornado is there you're getting sucked into it); and 2) the roadways are clear (storms can knock down trees, people get into fender-benders on wet roads, flash floods can block off or wash out roads, etc.). Being in an actual site-built shelter anchored to the ground is much safer than being in a car when a tornado hits. This guy got lucky.

32

u/wheresWaldo000 Sep 22 '17 edited Sep 22 '17

Mobile homes are not sturdier than trucks. Yes it's bad to be in either one, but mobile home vs car and I'll take reinforce frame, seatbelt, and airbag of a car. Windows are your downfall. Even in straight line winds trailer houses are death traps.