Staying Safe During A Thunderstorm- Emergency Outdoor Safety Tips

6/12/2019 (Permalink)

"When thunder roars, go indoors." Safe shelters include homes, offices, a hard-top vehicle, or public facilities like a shopping center or library.

When the thunder rolls, it’s best to find shelter quickly. 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. Thunderstorms can be dangerous, especially if important rules of safety are forgotten. In addition to heavy rain, the storm can also produce hail and your risk of being struck by lightning increases if you are stranded outside. If your car is close by, you can take shelter inside your vehicle until the storm passes. Put the windows up and then stay in the car until the storm is over. If there are no shelters nearby, here are some last-minute tips from the National Weather Service to reduce your risk of being injured or 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