Question: Fact or myth?…
You should open the windows in your house during a tornado or hurricane?
Answer: MYTH!
See why…
I remember sitting through tornado drills at school, when I was a kid.
And I remember they told us if we were at home during a tornado warning that we should crack the windows to allow air to enter AND exit the home.
This theory is similar to opening windows on opposite sides of your house during the summer months in order to get a “cross breeze” all throughout the house.
Now that I’m older (and wiser), I now know that you should NOT open any house windows during a tornado!
Not only is this wrong — it’s dangerous.
Opening a window brings in high-pressure air, which then must escape.
That’s usually out other windows or doors, or through the ceiling or roof.
Cracking the windows could even cause a house to explode. A better defense is covering openings with reinforced plywood, so air flows over (not into) the house.
— This Old House
RELATED:
- Opening Windows Does Not Equalize The Pressure
- FEMA: Do Not Open Windows
- Tornado Myths And Misinformation
- Awesome Tornado FAQ
As a homeowner, I primarily write about weather safety tips that everyone should know in order to protect their home and family during major weather events. I especially like to share seasonal “outside the box” ideas that most wouldn’t think of in the Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall.
The weather events I’ve personally experienced include: Hurricanes (while living in Florida), Tornadoes (while living in Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee), Earthquakes (while visiting California), Blizzards (while living in New York and Indiana), and Flooding (while living in Tennessee).
