As we face yet another day, where afternoon thunderstorms – and lots of lightning strikes – are likely, we should remember lightning kills an average of 62 people a year in the United States – with about 10 of those in Florida – the agency wants us to keep some safety tips in mind:“The only way to be safe during lightning is to be inside a substantial building or car. A building is safe if it is fully enclosed with a roof, walls, and floor, and contains wiring and plumbing throughout. Picnic shelters, dugouts, sheds and other partially open or small structures are not safe,” says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Lightning flashes about 25 million times a year in the United States – with about 1 million of those in Florida – and each one is a potential killer, NOAA says.
Some other interesting facts, courtesy of the National Weather Service:
-- About 100,000 thunderstorms build in the United States each year;
-- Lightning is present in all thunderstorms;
-- A cloud-to-ground lightning strike, the most destructive form of lightning, occurs when the electrical difference between a thundercloud and the ground overcomes the insulating properties of the surrounding air;
-- Lightning has struck 10 miles away from the rain of a thunderstorm;
If you find yourself stuck outdoors during a thunderstorm, here are some more tips:
-- Do not seek shelter under tall or isolated trees. Lightning typically strikes the tallest object in an area.
-- Avoid open areas. You don’t want to be the tallest object.
-- Do not seek shelter under partially enclosed buildings
-- If you are camping, be ready to seek safe shelter in a vehicle or substantial building if a thunderstorm threatens. A tent offers no protection from lighting.
-- Stay away from metal fences and poles that could conduct lightning to you.
-- If you are on a boat, return to shore immediately and seek safe shelter.
For more information, here's a good link. http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/
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