15 Things You Should Never Do During a Thunderstorm

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Each class , about 300 people in the U.S. are hit by lightning , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . While rough 90 percentage survive their wound , it ’s still a good musical theme to channelise cleared of one of Mother Nature ’s most powerful forces . The good way to protect yourself is to keep off being outside when the sky is flashing . During peak thunderstorm calendar month especially ( late springiness through summer in much of the U.S. ) , always check the conditions prognosis before planning out-of-door activities , and have a program for unexpected storms .

Storm intensity is likely increasing with clime modification , even leading to more forgetful but severe storms . Those star to more lightning and greater risk of other potentially wild situations like flooding . In fact , more people in the U.S. fail from floods each year than from lightning strikes , another danger of potent storms .

Man standing under dark clouds

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If you get caught outside in a violent storm , take the advice of the National Weather Service : “ When thunder roars , go indoors ! ” But there ’s more to stick safe during a electric storm than but heading inside . After all , one - third of lightning - strike injuries come indoors . To keep yourself and your family safe , take note of these thing that you should never do during a thunderstorm .

1. Take a Bath or Shower

Never take a bath or rain shower during a thunderstorm . If lightning strikes near you , electric current could travel through the pipes in your home base , set you at risk of burning .

2. Sit on Concrete

Never sit down down or tend on concrete during a electrical storm . Concrete is almost always reenforce by metallic element rebar or wire web , and both are effective conductors of electricity .

3. Use a Corded Phone

While it is safe to use a cell sound ( if it ’s not secure into a wall charger , that is ) during a electric storm , it is not safe to use a corded headphone . Lightning can trip through the phone transmission line — and if it does , you could be electrocuted .

4. Stand Out in the Open

You should never stand out in the open during a thunderstorm . Inside an enclosed building is the dependable office to be . If you do get get outdoors , head up as quickly as you’re able to to a hard - topped car or the tight building . If you have no other choice , crouch down low , with as footling of your body as potential touching the footing . While crouching does n’t really protect you from injury , you ’ll be less likely to get struck by lightning as it realize its way toward the ground .

5. Huddle Together for Safety

If you ’re stuck outdoors in the clear with a group of people during a lightning storm , do n’t clump together to endeavor to get out of the rainwater or nothingness . rather , circulate out at least 15 infantry aside to minimise the likelihood that you will all get hit .

6. Stand Under a Tree

Standing under a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in a electrical storm is incredibly life-threatening . Because of their height , Tree are likely to attract lightning as it guide toward the ground . A human being , however , bear electrical energy intimately than a tree diagram does , so if you ’re near a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , the lightning could well jump from the tree to you .

7. Stand Near a Window

Keep well away from window during a thunderstorm to quash wound . Many window , both previous and novel , are retrace of metal or have metallic element parts that can conduct lightning . In add-on , high winds during a violent storm can blow objects into windows , give out the looking glass and potentially causing harm .

8. Keep Tech Gear Plugged In

Anything that ’s plugged into an outlet in your base is at jeopardy of being damage from an electric surge during thunderstorms . If an electric violent storm has been prefigure , disconnect your computer , laptop computer , and other gimmick , and take unplugging contrivance . At the very least , secure appliances into a surge shielder if they are n’t already , but infer the upsurge protector probably ca n’t brook up to a lightning work stoppage nearby .

9. Lie Down on the Ground

You do n’t want to be the tallest matter around if you ’re caught out of doors in a electrical storm , but in your efforts to make yourself poor , do n’t make the mistake of consist down on the terra firma . When lightning smash , electric currents can travel along the airfoil of the land in excess of 100 foot . By stretch out on the land , you ’re making yourself a bigger target .

10. Wash the Dishes

You shouldn’twash dishesduring a thunderstorm for the same reason you should n’t bath during a electric storm : Lightning can locomote through pipes , wire your faucet , and cause injury . This is one hazard that ’s easy to obviate : The dishes can wait .

11. Use Small Appliances

A electrical storm is not the time to do the ironing , blow - dry your hair’s-breadth , or whip up a batch of meringue in the galvanic mixer . Any gadget plug into an electric release could carry a current should lightning strike , and you could be harmed if you ’re handling , or even just very close , that appliance at the time .

12. Do Laundry

Your washer and drier are plugged into the rampart , which is the first tap against them . The second strike is that they are metal , so lightning can incline through them the same way of life it can your toaster or blow drier . You definitely do not need to be near your washer and dryer during a thunderstorm , so give yourself a break from the laundry and curl up with a good book alternatively .

13. Take a Swim

body of water is an fantabulous director of electricity , as are many of the structures that fence in swim pools , such as metallic element ladder and diving boards . The American Red Cross recommendsthe 30 - 30 formula : Leave the syndicate and take cover when the time between lightning flash and big H is 30 seconds or less , and remain under blanket for 30 hour after the last lightning is see and thunder is heard . Although there has never been a documented lightning - colligate fatality at an indoor pool , many organizations , include the Red Cross , utilise the 30 - 30 rule to indoor pools as well .

14. Run to the Nearest Gazebo

When you ’re caught outside in a electrical storm , you might be charm to race to the nearest shelter , even if it ’s agazeboor picnic pavilion . Structures that are n’t completely enclosed will not protect you from lightning . If you ca n’t make it to a edifice , run for for your car ( assuming it has a surd top ) .

15. Head Back Outside After the Last Clap

The 30 - minute dominion does n’t just apply to swimming pool : You should always hold off 30 minutes after the last lightning you see ( or roar you hear ) before heading back outside , or resuming any indoor activities that you were invalidate during the storm .

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