How to Respect The Danger Of A Lightning Storm

A lightning storm is Mother Nature's electrical power. It is responsible for more deaths per year than tornadoes. Know when there is severe weather approaching your area. Even if the lightning storm is not right over you, lightning bolts travel miles out from the base of the lightning storm. You will not be able to dodge a lightning strike but you should know what to avoid, and how to be prepared, when there is severe weather.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Lightning storm safety.

   Lightning storms show how vulnerable we are to Mother Nature's power. Spring, and into summer, is peak season for lightning storms. Knowing how lightning enters a house or building and how to stay safe during a lightning storm may help protect you from injury and your personal property from damage.

2. 
    
   Lightning storm over City buildings.

   How Lightning Strikes Enter Building
   
   There are three main ways lightning enters the home - a direct strike, through wires or pipes that extend outside the structure and through the ground. Regardless of the method of entrance, once in the structure, the lightning can travel through the electrical, phone, plumbing, and radio/television reception systems. Lightning can also travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

3. 
    
   Lightning storm protection.

   Protect Yourself During a Lightning Storm
   
   To stay safe when you're inside your home during a lightning storm stay off your 'land line' phone, away from windows and doors and avoid doing the wash. Phone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States. Lightning travels long distances in both phone and electrical wires and can reach you if you're using or near the appliance. Another direct path for a lightning direct-strike into your home is doors and windows. Concrete garage floors generally have wire mesh running through them so avoiding contact with that surface will also ensure more safety. Washers and dryers have contacts with electrical wires and plumbing pipes, both which can carry the lightning strike surge, but also contain a path from the outside through the dryer vent.

4. 
    
   Lightning storm over a house.

   Protect Items Within Your Home During a Lightning Storm
   
   Remember your pets to ensure their safety. Dog houses, obviously, are not lightning safe and pets that are chained or in a wire kennel can easily become a victim to a lightning strike. Electrical surges produced by lightning can damage any electrical or electronic equipment. A surge protector will help protect this equipment from a lightning strike. Unplug your equipment, before the storm threatens, to ensure protection of this personal property.

Tips & Warnings

• A little knowledge and some advanced warning of an approaching lightning storm will help protect you from the damaging effects lightning strikes cause and reduce your vulnerability to one of nature's deadly hazards.

Resources

• How to Prepare a Tornado Family Disaster Plan
• How to Help Your Child After Being Part Of Natural Disasters

[jaredjb]

on 4/17/2009 Very cool article! I saw your picture and had to see it!

[Sidhartha]

on 2/12/2009 what a great article. I love the pictures.

[Gottaloveit]

on 2/12/2009 Very important eHow article. Great information about remaining safe during lightning storms.

[miasavc]

on 2/12/2009 This is very good information! Thanks for sharing. It's good to know what to do during a lightning storm.

[Wasatch]

on 2/11/2009 3 years ago a husband and wife were killed by lightening just over the hill from where we were camping. Know what to do, but it is still a risk.