Lightning Safety Awareness Week - updated with lightning fatalaties!
June 24 through 30 is Lightning Safety Awareness Week. Lightning is the number two storm-related killer, after floods. Below is a list of documented lightning fatalaties so far this year across the U.S. Please note some lightning deaths go unreported, so this list might not be complete. Look at the activities. Many are people involved in recreation such as golfing, fishing, boating, etc. Others are just doing routine summer outdoor activities such as yard work, walking across a parking lot to a car, etc.
Don’t be the next victim. Check the forecast and radar before heading out at weather.gov/chicago. If thundertorms are in the area, don’t wait until it starts raining to seek shelter indoors. Lightning can precede the rain. If you see lightning or hear thunder, go inside an enclosed building or a closed metal vehicle. Picnic shelters, gazebos, baseball dugouts, and covered porches will keep you dry but do not protect you from lightning.
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Lightning 2007
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ID
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Date
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State
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City
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Age
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Sex
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Location
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Activity
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Victim
|
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1
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3/29/2007
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IL
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Carbondale
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18
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M
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track field
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watching track meet
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Corey Williams
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2
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4/24/2007
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MO
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University City
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25
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M
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Under Tree
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Standing
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Joshua Reed
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3
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5/1/2007
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TX
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Cameron
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23
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M
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fish pond
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reeling in rod
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Ronald Jake Ingram
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4
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5/2/2007
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KY
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Nicholasvillle
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55
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M
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YARD
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On Riding mower
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Chuck Hibbs
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5
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5/2/2007
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TX
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Tradinghouse Creek
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28
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F
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Parking Lot
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WALKING TO CAR
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Melissa Brinegar
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6
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5/18/2007
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MT
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Helena
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50
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M
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RESERVOIR
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FISHING
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Theodore Austin
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7
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5/19/2007
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FL
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Maramar
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24
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M
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ROOF
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REPAIRING ROOF
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Darwin Olivera
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8
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6/8/2007
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OH
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North Lima
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66
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M
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Yard/Outside
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Yard
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David Copeland
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9
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6/9/2007
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VA
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Campbell County
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14
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M
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Field
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Had been fishing
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Jeremy Mosebrook
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10
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6/19/2007
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PA
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York
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24
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M
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Yard/driveway
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Running home
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Shawn Kelley
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11
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6/21/2007
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FL
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Miami/Pinecrest
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41
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M
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Yard/near tree
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Landscaping
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David Canales
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12
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6/23/2007
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TN
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Overton County
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47
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M
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Open Field
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Lean against motorcycle
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George Wood Jr
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13
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6/25/2007
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GA
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Cummings, Forsyth County
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27
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M
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Unfinished house
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taking shelter
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Jose DeJesus-Cruz
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14
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6/26/2007
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FL
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Lynn Haven
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57
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F
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Yard
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Doing yard work
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Lois Boyll
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15
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6/27/2007
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NY
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Waterford
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17
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M
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Near water
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Standing by boat launch, had been swimming
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Brandon Jones
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16
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6/27/2007
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MD
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Oxon Hill
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16
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F
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Under tree
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Waiting for bus
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|
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17
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6/27/2007
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MI
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Detroit
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70
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M
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Golf Course
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Playing Golf
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