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All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces
lightning. While lightning fatalities have decreased over the past
30 years, lightning continues to be one of the top three
storm-related killers in the United States. On average in the U.S.,
lightning kills 51 people and injures hundreds more. Although most
lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a
variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.
Other associated dangers of thunderstorms include
tornadoes, strong winds, hail and
Flash flooding is responsible for more
fatalities – more than 140 annually – than any other
thunderstorm-associated hazard. Dry thunderstorms that do not
produce rain that reaches the ground are most prevalent in the
western United States. Falling raindrops evaporate, but lightning
can still reach the ground and can start wildfires.
Before Thunderstorm and Lightning
To prepare for a thunderstorm, you should do the following:
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Remove dead or rotting trees and
branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a
severe storm.
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Postpone outdoor activities.
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Secure outdoor objects that could
blow away or cause damage.
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Get inside a home, building, or
hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be
injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside
a vehicle than outside.
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Remember, rubber-soled shoes and
rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the
steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased
protection if you are not touching metal.
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Shutter windows and secure outside
doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds,
shades or curtains.
- Unplug any electronic equipment well before the storm
arrives, especially computers and other sensitive electronics.
Lightning Risk Reduction When Outdoors
If you are in a forest then, seek shelter in a low area under a
thick growth of small trees, not a large tree that may be the
tallest one.
In an open area, go to a low place such as a ravine or valley
or go inside a building.
On open water, get to land and find shelter immediately.
Facts about Thunderstorms
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They may occur
singly, in clusters or in lines.
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Some of the most
severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for
an extended time.
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Thunderstorms
typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from
30 minutes to an hour.
-
Warm, humid
conditions are highly favorable for thunderstorm development.
- About 10 percent of thunderstorms are
classified as severe – one that produces hail at least an inch
or larger in diameter, has winds of 58 miles per hour or higher
or produces a tornado.
Facts about Lightning
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Lightning’s
unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property.
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Lightning often
strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles
away from any rainfall.
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“Heat lightning” is
actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder
to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.
-
Most lightning
deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the
summer months during the afternoon and evening.
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Your chances of
being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but
could be reduced even further by following safety precautions.
- Lightning strike victims carry no electrical
charge and should be attended to immediately.
Know the Terms
Familiarize yourself with these terms to help
identify a thunderstorm hazard:
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
- Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are
likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio,
commercial radio or television for information.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
- Issued when severe weather has been
reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate
imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the
storm.
During Thunderstorms and Lightning
If thunderstorm and lightning are occurring in
your area, you should:
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Use your
battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local
officials.
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Avoid contact with
corded phones and devices including those plugged into electric
for recharging. Cordless and wireless phones not connected to
wall outlets are OK to use.
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Avoid contact with
electrical equipment or cords. Unplug appliances and other
electrical items such as computers and turn off air
conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious
damage.
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Avoid contact with
plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not
wash dishes, and do not do laundry. Plumbing and bathroom
fixtures can conduct electricity.
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Stay away from
windows and doors, and stay off porches.
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Do not lie on
concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
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Avoid natural
lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
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Avoid hilltops,
open fields, the beach or a boat on the water.
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Take shelter in a
sturdy building. Avoid isolated sheds or other small structures
in open areas.
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Avoid contact with
anything metal—tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf
carts, golf clubs, and bicycles.
- If you are driving, try to safely exit the
roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency
flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or
other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the
vehicle.
After a Thunderstorm or Lightning Strike
If lightning strikes you or someone you know, call
9-1-1 for medical assistance as soon as possible. The following are
things you should check when you attempt to give aid to a victim of
lightning:
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Breathing
- if breathing has stopped, have someone call 911 and stay on
the line, administer CPR, have some locate
an AED, and have someone help you with the CPR in order to take
turns.
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Heartbeat
- if the heart has stopped, have someone call 911 and stay on
the line, administer CPR, have a second party locate an AED, and
have a third party help you with the CPR in order to take turns.
- Pulse
- if the victim has a pulse and is breathing, look for other
possible injuries. Check for burns where the lightning entered
and left the body. Also be alert for nervous system damage,
broken bones and loss of hearing and eyesight.
After the storm passes remember to:
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Never drive through
a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown!
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Stay away from
storm-damaged areas to keep from putting yourself at risk from
the effects of severe thunderstorms.
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Continue to listen
to a NOAA Weather Radio or to local radio and television
stations for updated information or instructions, as access to
roads or some parts of the community may be blocked.
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Help people who may
require special assistance, such as infants, children and the
elderly or those with access or functional needs.
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Stay away from
downed power lines and report them immediately.
- Watch your animals closely. Keep them under
your direct control.
References
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