Staying Safe During A Thunderstorm- Emergency Outdoor Safety Tips

5/10/2019 (Permalink)

"If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you." - National Weather Service

When a thunderstorm rolls in, it’s best to find shelter fast. But if you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm, it’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of how to protect yourself. If your car is nearby, you can take shelter inside your vehicle until the storm passes. Put the windows up and then stay put until the storm passes. If you are far from any shelter, here are some last resort tips from the National Weather Service to reduce the risk of getting struck by lightning:

• Never lie flat on the ground.
• Never shelter in or under an isolated tree.
• Immediately get off elevated areas like mountain ridges or peaks and hills.
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
• Keep away from objects that are conductive, i.e. power lines/transformers, windmills, metal fencing.
• Stay clear of bodies of water.

For weather forecast and safety information visit the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov