Summer Lightning Safety Tips

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

According to the National Weather Service "lightning kills an average of 47 people in the United States each year."

We get a lot of rain here in the Pacific Northwest, but lightning storms occur less often. When lightning does strike, do you know what to do to stay safe? Although lightning can strike anytime, the chance for lightning increases in the summer months. According to the National Weather Service "lightning kills an average of 47 people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured." Stay safe with these basic tips.

• Have a lightning safety plan so you are prepared and ready if a thunderstorm does hit.
• Cancel or postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are expected.
• If you do get caught outside, avoid high ground, open spaces, and all metal objects including electric wires, fences, etc. Seek shelter in a substantial building or a fully enclosed metal vehicle.
• If you are indoors, stay away from doors and windows. Do not use the telephone. Consider unplugging computers, power tools, & TV sets. Lightning may strike exterior electric/phone lines, inducing shocks to inside equipment.

Most lightning-related deaths occur when people are having fun outside. If you hear thunder or see lightning, immediately seek shelter in an enclosed building or vehicle. Remember, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! weather.gov/lightning

Source: the National Weather Service