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Thunderstorm, lighting safety

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Lynard Slaton
  • 87th Air Base Wing safety
JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  Thunderstorms can be dangerous. Although many people simply worry about hail damage during thunderstorms, it is important to realize that other, often more deadly risks from thunderstorms, can come from the following. 

· Driving during blinding rain. 

· Lightning, which can strike as far as 10 miles from an area of rainfall. 

· Flash flooding, which is most common during slow-moving thunderstorms, and can cause fast moving water to flow down what used to be dry creek beds or rivers, catching kids in the fast moving water. 

· Strong straight line winds, which can knock over trees and damage some buildings. 

· Tornadoes, which can damage or destroy all but the most secure buildings. 

To get updates before or during a severe thunderstorm warning or severe thunderstorm watch in your area, tune in to your local news or the weather channel. 

Lighting

Lightning causes thunder, so if you hear thunder, there is lightning nearby. Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from a thunderstorm, so it is important to try and figure out how far lightning is. 

How do you figure out how far the lightning is? A general rule of thumb is that you can figure out the distance between you and a lightning strike if you count the seconds in between seeing a lightning strike, hearing thunder, and then multiplying the time by 0.2. So if you count 10 seconds in between a lightning strike and a thunder clap, then the lightning is only about five miles away and you should seek shelter in a car or building. In general, you should make sure that you can count to at least 30 in between seeing lightning strikes and hearing thunder, which means that the lightning is at least 15 miles away. 

Other tips to keep you safe when lightning is nearby include that you: 

· Stay off corded phones and avoid taking a bath or shower, as telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity if your home is struck by lightning. 

· Seek shelter in a low-lying area that is not prone to flash flooding, squatting low to the ground, if you are caught outside during a storm, and stay away from tall trees or metal poles. 

· Avoid riding on anything metal during a severe thunderstorm. 

· Seek emergency medical attention if you see someone hit by lightning and start first aid, including CPR if necessary. 

Other tips to stay safe during thunderstorms, include: 

· Don't watch the thunderstorm. Instead, go inside and stay away from windows, open doors, and your porch. 

· Have a safe place to go if a tornado is headed toward your home, such as a tornado shelter, basement, center hallway, bathroom, closet, or other room on the lowest room of your home that is near the center of your home and doesn't have any windows. 

· Be prepared to go to your safe room during a tornado watch or severe thunderstorm warning. 

· Have a supply kit ready in your safe room that you will go to in severe weather. 

· Check for downed power lines or other damage after the thunderstorm before your kids go outside. 

Watching Mother Nature at work is a beautiful thing, but can be very dangerous. Remember these tips and continue to have a safe summer.