Surviving a Hurricane: Top 5 mistakes that could cost you your life

Hurricanes serve as a powerful reminder of Mother Nature's immense force, often leading to storm surges, wind damage, dangerous rip currents, and flooding. Unfortunately, they are a recurring occurrence for residents living along the coastlines of the United States.

It is important to be informed about what safety rules to follow in the event of a hurricane, and even more so if you live in a hurricane-prone area.

The US government website 'ready.gov' has many essential tips on how to prepare and what to do in the event of a hurricane. From emergency and evacuation plans, the importance of staying alert, and what to do when you return home after a storm.

While the American government offers vital advice, there are a few mistakes that many people do not consider when dealing with a hurricane.

Fortunately, Josh Morgerman, host of 'Mission: Hurricane,' who has been chasing hurricanes for 32 years, shared the biggest mistakes people tend to make during a storm with Reader's Digest, and we've summarized them for you here.

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Josh Morgerman told Reader's Digest that the best thing you can do to increase your chances of surviving a hurricane is to consider the elevation of your location. Surprisingly, this aspect holds even greater significance than the distance between you and the water.

Morgerman says that even if you find yourself situated 20 miles or more inland, being in a low-lying area means that the storm surge can still pose a significant threat. For example, if you are only two feet above sea level, it becomes irrelevant that you are located far away from the coastline, as your safety is compromised.

This experienced hurricane chaser tells us that if we doubt the importance of elevation, we should remember the events of 1957 during Hurricane Audrey. Despite being 20 miles away from the shore, the people in a town in the affected area believed they were safe.

Tragically, they were proven wrong when the water advanced so far inland, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. According to the American government on the website ready.gov "storm surge historically is the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States."

Morgerman, the storm chaser, is adamant that taping your windows prior to a hurricane is a total waste of time.

The expert warns that not only will taping your window not help at all with your survival chances, but it could actually worsen your situation.

According to what Morgerman told Reader's Digest, the best thing to do is to shutter or board up your windows long before the hurricane arrives.

Since we are talking about windows, Josh Morgerman has another piece of advice: never open the windows of your home during a hurricane. 

While this one might seem pretty obvious to some, there is a popular weather myth that opening windows during a hurricane can help the air to pass through. 

Morgerman affirms that this is complete nonsense and that to stay safe, you need to keep your house as airtight as possible and that opening your windows could even cause the roof of your house to blow off!

Morgerman told Reader's Digest that getting into your car for shelter during a hurricane is a really, really bad idea.

The storm expert warns that no matter what safe-driving tips you're following or how badly you want to get out of town, being in your car during a bad storm is a terrible idea.

There are multiple things that could go wrong: if you're in a car, the wind could flip it, a falling tree could crush it, or a collapsing building could squash your vehicle.

Morgerman warns that mobile homes are just as dangerous as vehicles during a hurricane, telling Reader's Digest: "They're death traps in any hurricane, even Category 1 storms. Take it from me: Get out of those ASAP."

Josh Morgerman says that the big issue is that people who have experienced hurricanes outside of the direct hit zone often end up thinking that it is "easy" to survive storms. 

Morgerman told Reader Digest that in the case of a category four hurricane if you are outside the hit zone, you "may only see winds gusting to 75 mph and the tide rising a couple of feet." As a result, many people think they lived through a category four hurricane when they really haven't. 

Since they were not in the direct hit zone, they did not experience the storm's full force. Thus when the next category four hurricane comes, people think it is okay to stay at home, and according to the storm expert, "People die that way."

Morgerman advises people to pay attention to the weather reports and emergency messages from authorities and says that if there is a good chance your home is in a direct hit zone, you should always evacuate to higher ground before the hurricane reaches your area.