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This document has two main sections: lightning
safety when a safe location is
nearby and risk reduction--not safety!--when a safe
location is NOT close. No place is absolutely safe from lightning;
however, some places are much safer than others. The SAFEST
location during lightning activity is a large enclosed
building, not a picnic shelter or shed. The second safest location
is an enclosed metal vehicle, car, truck, van, etc., but NOT
a convertible, bike or other topless or soft top vehicle.
Safe Buildings
A safe building is one that is fully enclosed
with a roof, walls and floor, such as a home, school, office
building or a shopping center. Even inside,
you should take precautions.
Picnic shelters,
dugouts, sheds and other
partially open or small structures
are NOT safe.
Enclosed
buildings are safe
because of wiring
and plumbing. If
lightning strikes
these types of buildings,
or an outside telephone
pole, the electrical
current from the
flash will typically
travel through
the wiring or
the plumbing
into the ground.
This is why you should
stay away from showers,
sinks, hot tubs,
etc., and electronic
equipment such
as TVs, radios, and
computers.
Lightning can damage
or destroy electronics
so it's important
to have a proper
lightning protection
system connected
to your electronic
equipment. The American
Meteorological Society has
tips for
protecting your electronics
from lightning.
Unsafe Buildings
Examples of buildings
which are unsafe
include car ports,
covered but open
garages, covered
patio, picnic shelters,
beach shacks/pavilions,
golf shelters, camping
tents, large outdoor
tents, baseball dugouts
and other small buildings such as sheds and greenhouses
that do not have electricity or plumbing.
Safe Vehicle
A safe vehicle
is a hard-topped
car, SUV, minivan,
bus, tractor, etc.
(soft-topped convertibles
are not safe) . If
you seek shelter in
your vehicle, make
sure all doors are
closed and windows
rolled up. Do not touch
any metal surfaces.
If you're driving
when a thunderstorm
starts, pull
off the roadway. A
lightning flash hitting
the vehicle could startle
you and cause temporary
blindness, especially
at night.
Do not use electronic
devices such as HAM
radios during
a thunderstorm.
Lightning striking
the vehicle, especially
the antennas, could
cause serious injury
if you are talking
on the radio or holding
the microphone at the
time of the flash.
Emergency officials
such as police officers,
firefighters, security
officers, etc., should
use extreme caution
using radio equipment
when lightning is in
the area.
Your vehicle
and its electronics
may be damaged if hit
by lightning.
Vehicles struck by
lightning are known
to have flat tires
the next day. This
occurs because the
lightning punctures
tiny holes in
the tires. Vehicles
have caught fire
after being struck
by lightning; however,
there is no modern
day documented cases
of vehicles "exploding" due
to a lightning flash.
Bolts from the Blue
There are times when
a lightning flash can
travel horizontally
many miles away from
the thunderstorm cloud
itself and then strike
the ground. These types
of lightning flashes
are called "Bolts
from the Blue" because they
seem to come out of
a clear blue sky. Although
these flashes are rare,
they have been known
to cause fatalities.
When
a Safe Location is
Nearby:
- Seek safe
shelter when
you first hear thunder,
see dark
threatening clouds
developing overhead
or lightning.
Count the seconds
between the time
you see lightning
and hear the thunder.
- Stay inside until
30 minutes after
you last hear
thunder.
Figure: When you hear
thunder, run to the nearest large building or a fully enclosed
vehicle. You are not safe anywhere outside.
Plan
Ahead! Your best source
of up-to-date weather
information is a NOAA
Weather Radio (NWR). Portable
weather radios
are handy for outdoor
activities. If you
don't have NWR, stay
up to date via internet,
TV, local radio or
cell phone. If you
are in a group, make
sure all leaders or
members of the group
have a lightning safety
plan and are
ready to use it.
Determine
how far you are from
a safe
enclosed building or
a safe
vehicle. As soon
as you hear thunder,
see lightning or see
dark threatening clouds,
get to a safe location.
Then wait 30 minutes
after the last rumble
of thunder before you
leave the safe location.
If you are part of
a group, particularly
a large one, you will
need more time to get
all group members to
safety. NWS recommends
having professional
lightning detection
equipment so your group
can be alerted from
significant distances
from the event site.
When
groups are involved,
the time needed to
get to safety increases.
So you need to start
leaving sooner. Your
entire group should
already be in a safe
location when the approaching
storm reaches within
5 miles from your location.
Here
some two common scenarios
with suggestions
on how to safely
respond.
Coach
of Outdoor Sports Team
You are a manager
of a little league
team and have a
game this evening
at the local recreational
park. The weather
forecast for the
day calls for a partly
cloudy skies, with
a chance of thunderstorms
by early evening.
You arrive in your
vehicle while the
kids arrive with
their parents. Once
arriving at the park,
you notice the only
buildings are the
the restrooms, an
enclosed building.
Shortly after sunset,
the skies start
to cloud up and you
see bright flashes
in the sky to the
west. The local radio
station mentions
storms are on the
way.
In this case, the
safest locations
are the vehicles the
kids came in or the rest
rooms. You
should have a choice
of allowing the
kids to go back
to their vehicles
or bring everyone
into the restrooms.
It is important
NOT to
stay in the dugouts
as they are not
safe place
during lightning
activity. Once
at a safe place,
wait 30 minutes
after the
last rumble of
thunder before
going back outside.
Family
at the Beach
You plan
to go to the beach
or lake later this
morning with the kids.
The weather forecast
calls for a nice morning
followed by a 30 percent
chance of afternoon
thunderstorms. You
decide to head for
the beach in your minivan.
The beach is about
5 minutes from the
parking lot. The only
nearby buildings are
picnic shelters. By
early afternoon you
notice the skies darkening
and hear distant thunder.
What would be your
lightning safety plan
of action?
In
this case, the best
place to go is your car.
Do NOT seek shelter
under the beach picnic
shacks because
these are not
safe in lightning
storms. Wait
30 minutes until
after the last
thunder crack
before going
back to the beach
or driving
home.
Camping
You and your family are camping. As you and your spouse
are preparing dinner on the camp stove, you here rumbles
of thunder in the distance. You look around and you see your
tent is nearby, and a large picnic shelter is just down the
trail. Your car is about ¼ of a mile away parked at
the trail head. What should you and your family do?
In this case, the smartest thing to do is to round up your
family and get into your car. The tent is not a safe place
to be as it offers NO protection from a lighting flash.
The picnic shelter is also not a safe location. (Both the
tent and picnic shelter will keep you dry…but they offer
NO protection from a lightning flash). It is best to remain
in your vehicle for about 30 minutes after the last rumble
of thunder is heard.
When
a Safe Location Is
Not Nearby
The lightning
safety community
reminds you that
there is NO safe
place to be outside
in a thunderstorm.
If you absolutely
can't get to
safety,
this
section is designed
to help you lessen
the threat of
being struck
by lightning
while outside. Don't kid yourself--you are NOT safe
outside.
Being
stranded outdoors when
lightning is striking
nearby is a harrowing
experience. Your first
and only truly safe
choice is to get to
a safe building or
vehicle. If you are camping, climbing,
on a motorcycle or
bicycle, boating, scuba
diving, or enjoying
other outdoor activities
and cannot get to a
safe vehicle or shelter,
follow these last resort
tips. These will not prevent you from being hit, just slightly lessen the odds.
- Do NOT seek shelter
under tall isolated
trees. The tree
may help you stay
dry but will
significantly increase
your risk of being
struck by lightning.
Rain
will not kill you,
but the lightning
can!
- Do NOT seek
shelter under partially
enclosed buildings
- Stay away from
tall, isolated
objects. Lightning
typically strikes
the tallest object.
That may be
you in
an open
field or clearing.
- Know the weather
patterns of the area.
For example, in mountainous
areas, thunderstorms
typically develop
in the early
afternoon, so plan
to hike early in
the day and be down
the mountain by noon.
- Know the weather
forecast. If there
is a high chance
of thunderstorms,
curtail your outdoor
activities.
- Do not place your
campsite in an open
field on the top
of a hill or on a
ridge top. Keep your
site away from tall
isolated trees or
other tall objects.
If you are in a forest,
stay near a lower
stand of trees. If
you are camping in
an open area, set
up camp in a valley,
ravine, or other
low area. A tent
offers NO protection
from lighting.
- Wet ropes can make excellent conductors.
This is BAD news when it comes to lightning activity.
If you are mountain climbing and see lightning, and can do
so safely, remove unnecessary ropes extended or attached
to you. If a rope is extended across a mountain face and
lightning makes contact with it, the electrical current will
likely travel along the rope, especially if it is wet.
- Stay away from metal objects, such as fences, poles and
backpacks. Metal is an excellent conductor. The current from
a lightning flash will easily travel for long distances (See
Figure 1)
Figure: Dead cows lined up along a metallic
fence. Lightning struck the fence, and the current traveled
along the fence killing the cows. Photo
Courtesy Ruth Lyon-Bateman
If
lightning is in the immediate area, and there is no safe
location nearby, stay at least 15 feet apart from
other members of your group so the lightning won't travel between
you if hit. If you can possibly run to a vehicle or building,
DO so. Sitting or crouching on the ground is NOT safe
and should be a last resort if a enclosed building or vehicle
is not available.
Motorcyclist/Bicyclist: So
has anyone been hit riding a bike? Here are just a few real
examples from the last few years.
- Virginia Beach, VA: Motorcyclist killed while traveling
on Route 58.
- Altoona, PA: One motorcycle rider killed
and three riders injured when they took shelter in
a woods from a thunderstorm.
- Wyoming: Motorcyclist injured while
driving home on I-90 from Sturgis.
- Taylor Park,
CO: Dirt biker injured while heading down mountain
pass.
Protect Yourself when on a bicycle, motorcycle or dirt bike.
- Carry a portable
Weather Radio or listen to
commercial radio.
- If you see threatening
skies in the distance
and you are passing
a safe location,
pull over and wait
30 minutes after
the last thunder
crack.
- If you can turn
around and get away
from the storm, do
so!
- DO NOT ride into
a lighting storm!
If you absolutely
cannot get to a safe
building or vehicle,
here are some last
resort choices:
- Wait out the storm
below an overpass.
DO NOT touch steel
girders. Move away
from your bike. Remain
on dry surfaces
if possible. Overpasses
are engineered structures
and are likely to
be properly grounded.
Although an overpass
is likely to be higher
than the surrounding
landscape, if it
is struck by lightning,
the electrical current
will likely be channeled
safely into the ground.
- Look for a bridge.
Stay away from water.
Stay away from any
metal surfaces. Be
alert for rapidly
rising water if under
a bridge.
- High tension wires:
If high voltage electrical
tension wires cross
the road, you may
want to seek shelter
directly underneath
these wires. Do not
get too close to
the large metal towers
which hold up these
wires. Stay at least
50 feet away. Electric
companies design
these high tension
wires for lightning
strikes. If lighting
should strike the
wires or towers,
the current is designed
to safely go deep
into the ground.
- If you are caught in the open and lightning is occurring
within 5 miles, STOP riding, get off of
your motorcycle/bicycle, find a ditch or other low spot
and sit down.
- Motorcyclists should move at least 50 feet
away from their bike. Bicyclist should lay their bikes
on the ground.
IMPORTANT:
These recommendations
are a last resort.
You are NOT safe
in these places just
marginally safer
than in the open.
Click
here to read a
story about a motorcyclist
killed while riding
in lightning.
On the
Water
The vast
majority of lightning
injuries and deaths
on boats occur on small
boats with NO
cabin.
It is crucial
to listen to
the weather on a
small aquatic
vessel without
a cabin. If thunderstorms
are forecast,
don't go out.
If you are out
on the water
and skies are
threatening,
get back to land
and find a safe
building or vehicle.
Boats with cabins
offer a safer but
not perfect environment.
Safety is increased
further if the
boat has a properly
installed lightning
protection system.
If you are
inside the cabin,
stay away
from metal and
all electrical
components. STAY
OFF THE RADIO UNLESS
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE
EMERGENCY!
What should you
do if you are on
a small vessel
and lightning becomes
a threat? If the
vessel has an anchor,
then you should
properly anchor
the boat then get
as low as possible.
Large boats with
cabins, especially
those with lightning
protection systems
properly installed
or metal marine
vessels are relatively
safe. Remember
to stay inside
the cabin and away
from any metal
surfaces.
Scuba Divers
If the
boat you are in does
not have a safe cabin
to be in during lightning
activity, then you
are safer diving
deep into the water
for the duration of
the storm or as long
as possible. Your first
choice is to head in
and get in safe building
or vehicle.