You were taught wrong. Laying flat on the ground is only what you do if there is absolutely no other option. Anyone laying flat on the ground during that Oklahoma twister would just be dead.
Had my elementary school teacher told me to cower in the corner of a government building built by the lowest bidder, I would have taken my chances on the open prairie.
First, those kids were miles from open prairie, second if you are out on the open prairie and get hit by an F5, you're dead.
I don't think you have any inkling of what 250mph winds do to people and things. I've seen people tossed like rag dolls by 100mph winds.
Do not speak to me about things of which you have no knowledge.
I'm sitting outside Moore, OK with a 5th wheel in tow, which I intend to deliver to my cousin, who lost everything but the slab on his house.
I'm doing this because his and his family' s recovery from this will take months if not years and housing will be in short supply.
If not for the people with select-fire weapons and military tanks preventing my progress, I would already be there.
I am 61 years old and have lived in "tornado alley" all my life. I'm just relating the facts. You can like them and agree with them or not. Does not matter to me.
Fact remains that those people survived by doing exactly what I described.
They're still missing an 18 year old, but she is smart enough to have survived and will be fine.