When thunder roars, go indoors, might seem like a cute rhyme, but it could save your life.
There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm.
Every lightning strike can be deadly. Lightning strikes the U.S. 25 million limes. In 2024 lightning strikes killed 12 people in the United States. Lightning strikes kill an average of 47 people each year worldwide. Many of those death occur outdoors and are preventable.
The best way for you to protect yourself from lightning is to avoid the threat. You simply don’t want to be caught outside in a storm. Have a lightning safety plan and cancel or postpone activities early if thunderstorms are expected. Monitor weather conditions and get to a safe place before the weather becomes threatening. Substantial buildings and hard-topped vehicles are safe options. Rain shelters, small sheds, and open vehicles are not safe.
When inside, do not touch anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet, plumbing, or corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe. Also, keep away from outside doors and windows and do not lie on a garage floor.
Finally, wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside. If everyone followed those simple rules, the number of lightning casualties in this country could be greatly reduced.
You can find more lightning safety tips at this link.