Lightning Safety for You and Your Family
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Each year in the United States, more than 400 people are struck by lightning. On average, between 55 and 60 people are killed; hundreds of others suffer permanent neurological disabilities. Most of these tragedies can be avoided with a few simple precautions. When thunderstorms threaten, get to a safe place. Lightning safety is an inconvenience that can save your life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) collects information on weather-related deaths to learn how to prevent these tragedies. Many lightning victims say they were caught outside in the storm and couldnt get to a safe place. With proper planning, these tragedies could be prevented. Other victims waited too long before seeking shelter. By heading to a safe place 5 to 10 minutes sooner, they could have avoided being struck by lightning. Some people were struck because they went back outside too soon. Stay inside a safe building or vehicle for at least 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder clap. Finally, some victims were struck inside homes or buildings while they were using electrical equipment or corded phones. Others were in contact with plumbing, a metal door or a window frame. Avoid contact with these electrical conductors when a thunderstorm is nearby!
What You Might Not Know About Lightning
All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. In the United States, in an average year, lightning kills about the same number of people as tornadoes and more people than hurricanes.
Lightning often strikes outside the area of heavy rain and may strike as far as 10 miles from any rainfall. Many lightning deaths occur ahead of storms or after storms have seemingly passed.
If you can hear thunder, you are in danger. Dont be barled by blue skies. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to pose an immediate threat. Lightning leaves many victims with permanent disabilities. While a small percentage of lightning strike victims die, many survivors must learn to live with very serious lifelong pain and neurological disabilities.
Avoid the Lightning Threat
Have a lightning safety plan. Know where youll go for safety and how much time it will take to get there. Make sure your plan allows enough time to reach safety.
Postpone activities. Before going outdoors, check the forecast for thunderstorms. Consider postponing activities to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.
Monitor the weather. Look for signs of a developing thunderstorm such as darkening skies, flashes of lightning or increasing wind.
Get to a safe place. If you hear thunder, even a distant rumble, immediately move to a safe place. Fully enclosed buildings with wiring and plumbing provide the best protection. Sheds, picnic shelters, tents or covered porches do NOT protect you from lightning. If a sturdy building is not nearby, get into a hard-topped metal vehicle and close all the windows. Stay inside until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
If you hear thunder, dont use a corded phone except in an emergency. Cordless phones and cell phones are safe to use.
Keep away from electrical equipment and wiring.
Water pipes conduct electricity. Dont take a bath or shower or use other plumbing during a storm.
Organized Outdoor Activities
Many people enjoy outdoor activities. Its essential for the people in charge of these activities to understand the dangers of lightning, have a lightning safety plan in place, and follow the plan once thunder is heard or lightning is seen. Many outdoor activities rely on volunteer leaders, coaches or sports officials to make safety decisions. Make sure the leaders of these activities follow a lightning safety plan. Dont be afraid to ask, and dont be afraid to speak out during an event if conditions become unsafe. You could save a life!
What You Should Know About Being
Caught Outside Near a Thunderstorm
There is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm. Plan ahead to avoid this dangerous situation! If youre outside and hear thunder, the only way to significantly reduce your risk of becoming a lightning casualty is to get inside a substantial building or hard-topped metal vehicle as fast as you can. In addition, you should avoid the following situations which could increase your risk of becoming a lightning casualty.
Remember ‚¬ there is no substitute for getting to a safe place.
Avoid open areas. Dont be the tallest object in the area.
Stay away from isolated tall trees, towers or utility poles. Lightning tends to strike the taller objects in an area.
Stay away from metal conductors such as wires or fences. Metal does not attract lightning, but lightning can travel long distances through it. If you are with a group of people, spread out. While this actually increases the chance that someone might get struck, it tends to prevent multiple casualties, and increases the chances that someone could help if a person is struck.
Act Fast If Someone Is Struck by Lightning!
Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge, are safe to touch, and need urgent medical attention. Cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death for those who die. Some deaths can be prevented if the victim receives the proper first aid immediately.
Call for help. Call 9-1-1 or your local ambulance service.
Give first aid. Do not delay CPR if the person is unresponsive or not breathing. Use an Automatic External Defibrillator if one is available.
If possible, move the victim to a safer place. Lightning can strike twice. Dont become a victim.
Stay Informed About Storms Listen to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
There are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes in the U.S. each year. While the National
Weather Service (NWS) issues severe thunderstorm watches and warnings for storms that produce damaging wind or hail, watches and warnings are NOT issued for lightning. When you hear thunder, there is an immediate lightning danger. As a further safety measure, consider purchasing a portable, battery-powered, tone-alert NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards. The radio will allow you to monitor any short-term forecasts for changing weather conditions. The tone-alert feature can automatically alert you when the NWS issues a severe thunderstorm watch or warning.
Lightning Statistics
- Most lightning strikes occur either at the beginning or end of a storm.
- The average lightning strike is six miles long.
- Lightning reaches 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, four times as hot as the sun’s surface.
- A cloud-to-ground lightning channel can be 2 to 10 miles long.
- Voltage in a cloud-to-ground strike is 100 million to 1 billion volts.
Did You Know?
- Lightning is underrated as a risk because it usually claims only one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction of property.
- Lightning affects all regions. Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Colorado have the most lightning deaths and injuries.
- Damage costs from lightning are estimated at $4-5 billion each year in the U.S.
- Around the earth there are 100 lightning strikes per second, or 8,640,00 times a day.
- What is commonly referred to as heat lightning, is actually lightning too far away to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.
- There are approximately 100,000 thunderstorms in the U.S. each year.
Striking Statistics
- Americans are twice as likely to die from lightning than from a hurricane, tornado or flood.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates there are 200 deaths and 750 severe injuries from lightning each year in the U.S.
- 20% of all lightning victims die from the strike.
- 70% of survivors will suffer serious long-term effects.
- Annually, there are more than 10,000 forest fires caused by lightning.
Who’s at Risk?
- 85% of lightning victims are children and young men aged 10-35 engaged in outdoor recreation and work activities outside.
- 70% of all lightning injuries and fatalities occur in the afternoon.
- Most lightning deaths involve people working outdoors and outdoor recreationists
- Lightning in remote terrain creates dangerous conditions. Hikers, campers, backpackers, skiers, fishermen, and hunters are especially vulnerable when they’re participating in these activities.
- Many survivors of lightning strikes report that immediately before being struck their hair was standing on end and they had a metallic taste in their mouth.
- Long-term injuries from a lightning strike can include memory & attention loss, chronic numbness, muscle spasms & stiffness, depression, hearing loss, and sleep disturbance.
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For More information go to
NWS lightning links, forecasts, assessments:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards:
http://www.weather.gov/nwr
Federal Emergency Management Agency:
http://www.fema.gov
