WASHINGTON - A recent report issued by the National Weather Service focuses on the "Super Tuesday" tornado outbreak of Feb. 5-6, 2008, and details why some people did not take cover when severe weather warnings were issued.

The tornado outbreak was dubbed the "Super Tuesday" outbreak because it coincided with presidential primary elections. The outbreak killed 57 people, injured 350, and caused $400 million in property damage throughout the South.

The report found that there were several reasons why some survivors who were impacted by tornadoes that day did not heed National Weather Service warnings.

Approximately two-thirds of the victims were in mobile homes, and 60 percent had not access to safe shelter, such as a basement or storm cellar. Some of the victims said that because the outbreak occurred in February, they thought the storms would not be as strong because February is not the most typical month for severe weather.

Others said they spent time reviewing weather information and only went to a safe location after they saw a tornado. Many people minimized the threat of personal risk through "optimism bias," the belief that bad things only happen to other people.

During the "Super Tuesday" event, the National Weather Service issued warnings an average of 17 minutes in advance of deadly tornadoes.

Later in 2008, dozens of people died when Hurricane Ike struck Galveston, Texas in September, even after the Houston weather forecast office implored residents to heed evacuation orders.

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