15 Mistakes People Made During Storms That Cost Them Dearly
When storms strike, small mistakes—like ignoring warnings, driving through floods, or seeking shelter in the wrong place—can turn deadly instantly.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Storms are brutal and relentless, and there is a sad history of people who made easy but deadly mistakes—ignoring evacuation, misestimating floodwaters, or taking cover in the wrong location. From hurricane storm surges to tornado wind tunnels, these actual catastrophes illustrate the horrific results of underestimating nature’s wrath. Learning from these expensive mistakes will help us prepare better, make wiser choices, and ultimately save lives when the next storm arrives.
1. Disregarding Evacuation Warnings – Hurricane Katrina (2005)
Image from Britannica
New Orleans residents numbering thousands disregarded evacuation warnings, believing the storm would not be as severe as forecast. When levees broke, whole districts were flooded, trapping many in attics or on roofs. More than 1,800 lost their lives, and the tragedy joined the ranks of the most fatal in US history.
2. Driving into Flooded Streets – Texas Floods (2015)
Image from Spectrum News
A Texas woman tried to drive across what appeared to be a shallow flooded road amid history-making storms. The water was more profound and forceful than it appeared, carrying her vehicle away and pinning her in it. The rescuers came too late, affirming the “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” message.
3. Using a Generator Indoors – Hurricane Sandy (2012)
Image from Wikipedia
Some individuals in New Jersey employed gas-driven generators within their homes after Sandy outaged power. The accumulation of carbon monoxide was lethal to no fewer than five individuals who unconsciously poisoned themselves. Carbon monoxide is not aromatic and is a quiet killer within confined spaces.
4. Sheltering Under an Overpass – Oklahoma Tornado (1999)
Image from Wikipedia
In the fatal EF5 Moore tornado, several motorists took refuge under an overpass, thinking it was safe. The winds of the tornado were strengthened by a wind tunnel effect, pulling individuals out or slamming them with airborne objects. Experts now advise that overpasses are one of the worst locations to take cover in a tornado.
5. Underestimating Storm Surge – Typhoon Haiyan (2013)
Image from Wikipedia
In the Philippines, thousands of residents thought their houses were strong enough to withstand Typhoon Haiyan’s winds but had not anticipated the huge storm surge. Walls of water 20 feet high inundated entire neighborhoods, killing more than 6,000 people. Many of those who survived the wind perished when they were drowned out as the ocean engulfed their homes.
6. Standing Near Windows – Hurricane Andrew (1992)
Image from KUER
A Florida man remained indoors but was close to a big glass window to observe the storm. The 165-mph winds blew the glass to pieces, launching shards like knives, seriously hurting him. Emergency responders couldn’t reach him for hours because the roads were clogged with debris.
7. Swimming in a Storm Surge – Hurricane Ike (2008)
Image from Wikipedia
Some adventure-seekers in Galveston, Texas, used the surge from Hurricane Ike as an amusement park. They tried to swim in the surge but were immediately overwhelmed by powerful currents and wreckage. Some drowned, while others were severely injured from being thrown into buildings and cars.
8. Dependence on a Mobile Home – Joplin Tornado (2011)
Image from Wikipedia
A lot of the residents of Joplin, Missouri, huddled inside their mobile homes when the EF5 tornado wrecked the city. The buildings were flattened, and their residents tossed hundreds of feet. More than 160 lost their lives, and most of those deaths were because they did not have a good storm shelter.
9. Refusing to Leave a Sinking Car – Hurricane Harvey (2017)
Image from Wikipedia
A Houston family tried driving through water but became stuck as water surged at a very high rate inside their vehicle. Rather than immediately getting out and swimming to safety, they waited for rescue help, thinking that they could call for rescue. The car completely submerged, and they drowned before rescuers came.
10. Disregarding Freezing Rain – Texas Ice Storm (2021)
Image from Los Angeles Times
Hundreds of Texans didn’t believe the approaching ice storm and kept driving as usual. Black ice and freezing rain resulted in huge pileups, including a 133-vehicle collision in Fort Worth that killed six. The storm turned out to be much worse than expected, leaving drivers stuck in freezing temperatures for hours.
11. Using Candles During a Storm – Australia Bushfires (2009)
Image from The New Yorker
On Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia, a family relied on candles for lighting after their power had been cut. A strong wind blew a candle over, causing curtains to burn and the house to catch fire. The family managed to escape, but their house was destroyed in an avoidable accident.
12. Seeking Shelter in a Basement Without Assessing Risk of Flooding – Pennsylvania Floods (1977)
Image from Wikipedia
Many Pennsylvania residents sought refuge in their basements when torrential rain caused dam failures. Unfortunately, floodwaters poured into homes, trapping and drowning people who thought they were safe. The disaster killed 84 people, many due to this common but deadly mistake.
13. Underestimating Lightning – Florida Beach (2022)
Image from www.theledger.com
A group of friends remained on a Tampa beach despite ominous clouds and far-off thunder. A lightning bolt came out of nowhere, killing one instantly and injuring another badly. Lightning can strike miles from a storm, which is dangerous even before the rain arrives.
14. Trying to Surf a Hurricane – Hurricane Florence (2018)
Image from Wikipedia
A North Carolina man took his surfboard to ride the huge waves generated by the oncoming hurricane. The strong rip currents overcame him, and his remains were discovered days later. Even experienced surfers advise against surfing during hurricanes because the waters become unpredictable.
15. Assuming Bridges Are Safe During a Hurricane – Hurricane Charley (2004)
Image from Wikipedia
Some Floridians believed a highway bridge would be safer than their homes and drove their vehicles onto it. The strong winds swept up cars and hurled them into the water below. The storm surge also inundated the bridge, taking everything in its path with it.