Dallas Blog

That was like a crash course in "what not to do if you're in a car and you see a tornado." Not the sharpest knives in the drawer, those two.

Needs more chick and less shirtless dude.

I'm reminded of the Blair Witch Project.

yeah it would be a shame to waste something that hot. Don't mess around with storms if you don't know what the hell you're doing.

Pure idiocy. Also, exactly what no one should do during a tornado unless they want to end up in a hospital or in the ground.

Duck & cover?..No wait, that was A-bombs...Stop, Drop, Roll...no, wait, that was hiding from cops in Jamaica but to stoned to care...lather, rinse, repeat?

"Since there are so many tornado experts on this blog, what exactly should they have done?"

She heard the sirens and then saw the funnel, she knew the direction it was heading. They should have found the closest shelter which would probably have been the bathrooms at the track. Or at the very least just stayed put.

Having taken the high ground I kind of understand them. I've been flushed with adrenaline and have done some stupid things with regard to weather. When the tornado went through Fort Worth over off of 820 and Lancaster I was at UTA. Me and about 100 other students were standing on the main bridge over Cooper St. trying to get a better view of funnels over Fielder and I30. Not smart.

"Since there are so many tornado experts on this blog, what exactly should they have done?"

People, in a tornado you get in a solid structure, away from windows. In the event that you're out in the open, if something like an overpass isn't available, put your body in a low area like a ditch. Driving in a car is a very bad place to be.

How you can live in Texas and not know that blows my mind.

@ChrisVonDanger
This looks like it was shot from an SLR with video... perhaps a D90 or 5D... just a guess.

Folks can see the posters version of events here:

http://untamedscience.com/DFWstorm

Sounds like they were caught outside int he storm. Could happen to anyone... the front was moving at 50mph.

@ Ducky:

The link to your article telling people to stay in their cars during a tornado is broken. I wonder why.

@ ryan
The link worked this morning--why would I make it up? I don't really give a flying cow about your education..why don't you to use Google dude..."new tornado safety rules".

This is from the american Red Cross site:

When a Tornado WARNING Is Issued...
If you are inside, go to the safe place you picked to protect yourself from glass and other flying objects. The tornado may be approaching your area.

If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter, or sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, a recent study* suggests doing the following:

Get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt, and try to drive at right angles to the storm movement and out of the path.

If strong winds and flying debris occur while you are driving, pull over and park, keeping seat belts on and the engine running. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.

*Schmidlin T., et al, 2002: Unsafe at any (wind) speed? American Meteorological Society, 1821-30

@Ducky:

Well, I stand corrected. I looked it up and now I see what you're talking about.

I suppose that when it gets right down to it, being stuck outside in a tornado is just dangerous regardless of whether you want to lie in a ditch or drive at a right angle to get out of the way.

Thanks, Ducky.

Tornillo, I have lived in Texas my entire life, I know what to do, but as Ducky noted, standards change.

People used to get up on roofs in my hometown when the sirens would sound. Again, not safe, but rushing adrenaline makes one do crazy things.

I want that camera. Damn, that was nice lush color footage.