Why You Should Not Seek Shelter Under An Overpass In Oklahoma

With as much advance warning meteorologists can give, a tornado touching the ground still comes as a surprise, even in Oklahoma. And the precise location is near impossible to predict. But when there's a chance for severe weather, people still travel and drive down highways, and some times, they get caught in the middle of a deadly storm.

The safest place to seek shelter from a tornado is underground, preferably in a storm shelter. But not everyone has a storm shelter, so they have to rely on a central room with no windows on the lowest level of their homes. And if people are outside when severe weather strikes, they have limited shelter options and often not enough time to consider the safest spot.

Before Oklahoma's recent potentially dangerous storm on Monday, May 19, the National Weather Service in Norman shared multiple safety informational graphics regarding how to to take shelter during a tornado. One of the graphics touched on how dangerous it is to take shelter under an overpass.

For those who saw last year's summer blockbuster "Twisters," they'll understand why taking shelter under an overpass might not be the best thing to do.

READ MORE: Know The Difference Between a Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning

Mother and daughters sought shelter under an overpass during the 1999 Bridge Creek F5 tornado.

But sheltering under an overpass during a tornado is not just in the movies, hundreds of people have done so in real life. Some survived and some didn't.

A lot of people will remember the historic photo a mother and her two daughters that sought shelter under an overpass during an F5 that struck Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, on May 3, 1999. The image shows Tammy Holmgren clutching her two daughters after the F5 tornado passed over the overpasss.

@xtreme_hurricanes162647 Tammy Holmgren and her two daughters were trying to shelter from the Bridge Creek F5 on May 3, 1999. They were sheltering under an overpass. They #fyp #tornadoshelter .#tornadotok #f5 #bridgecreektornado ♬ original sound - Xtreme hurricanes

Multiple people took shelter under overpasses that day as the F5 tornado was a surprise on that sunny day in 1999. Another overpass people sought shelter under was the 16th Street and I-44 overpass near Newcastle, Oklahoma. The overpass ended up taking a direct hit from the F5 tornado that eventually became known as one of the strongest tornadoes in U.S. history. One woman was sucked up into the tornado from under the overpass.

@disastroushistory Haunting Tornado Damage photo #disastroushistory #history #disasters #tornado #oklahoma ♬ original sound - DisastrousHistory

Overpasses used to be considered safe to shelter under during a tornado.

In 1999, overpasses were considered a safe place to shelter under during a tornado. But after that F5 in 1999, overpasses were no longer deemed safe as many people suffered horrific injuries or died because they sought shelter under an overpass.

Now if you're on the road and a tornado strikes, the best practice is to pull off the road and find a sturdy building to seek shelter in. If there is no shelter near by, people should consider laying down in a ditch or low-lying area to avoid tornado debris.

People driving could also consider moving out of the path of the tornado - like if the tornado is going left, you should drive right. But the NOAA does not encourage drivers to try to outrun a tornado. Unfortunately, many lives have been lost from trying to out run a tornado. Even professionals have perished. During the EF3 tornado that struck El Reno on May 31, 2013, Team TWISTEX collided with the tornado as they were trying to get away from it. All three team members were lost that day.

@sewindyo #foryou #viralvideo #fyp #team#Twistex ♬ Parent issues by Двузер - Grey59

Learn more about tornado safety while driving.

For more information on how to stay safe while driving during a tornado, the National Weather Service has information available on its official website.