⚡ Lightning Safety & Preparedness

Lightning strikes are a serious hazard, causing 75-100 deaths annually in the U.S. To stay safe, it’s crucial to know how to protect yourself indoors and outdoors during thunderstorms.

🌩 Lightning Safety Indoors

When thunderstorms approach, follow these tips to stay safe indoors:

• 🚪 Stay away from doors and windows – Lightning can travel through windows and open doors.
• 🔥 Avoid stoves and sinks – Water and plumbing are good conductors of electricity.
• 🔌 Disconnect electronics – Unplug appliances like TVs, radios, and computers to protect them from power surges.
• 📞 Don’t use the telephone – Avoid using a landline phone, as it can conduct electricity from a lightning strike.
• 🚱 Keep away from metal pipes – Including those in sinks, showers, and bathtubs, which can conduct a lightning strike.

🌧 Lightning Safety Outdoors

If you’re caught outdoors during a thunderstorm, follow these life-saving precautions:

• 🚗 Seek shelter in an automobile – Your car provides protection from lightning, especially if it has a metal roof and frame.
• 🏠 Find a safe building – If no car is available, seek shelter in a sturdy building away from windows.
• ⛔ Avoid standing under trees – Lightning often strikes tall objects, making trees a dangerous shelter.
• ⚡ Minimize your height – If no shelter is available, crouch down low on the balls of your feet with your hands over your ears and head.
• 🚫 Avoid metal fences – Stay away from fences or other metallic conductors, as they can carry a lightning strike.
• 🏚 Don’t shelter in small sheds – They offer little protection and are prone to being damaged by lightning

⚡What to Do if Lightning Strikes

• Stay Inside – Remain indoors until at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap.
• Monitor Weather Alerts – Stay tuned to weather radio or local alerts for ongoing storm warnings.

⚡ Key Takeaways

• Inside: Stay away from metal, water, and electronics.
• Outside: Seek shelter in a car or building, crouch low if no shelter is available, and avoid tall objects like trees.
• Never lie flat: Keep your body slightly elevated to minimize risk from a lightning strike.

⚠️ Act fast, stay informed, and stay safe when lightning strikes!