The Dangers of Lightning: What You Need to Know

While we mostly focus on larger weather events, like hurricanes, on this blog, this month we thought it was important to discuss how to be prepared for another dangerous kind of weather event that happens much more frequently: the Thunderstorm.

Thunderstorms can occur in isolation, as clusters or in lines. They are typified by a period of rain in one location that normally lasts from 30 minutes to an hour, and a full 10% of them earn the classification of “severe” by generating hail at least an inch in diameter, having winds that reach speeds of 58mph+, or producing a tornado.

The Dangers of LightningWhile the rain of a thunderstorm can cause dramatic damage by itself, an aspect of thunderstorms that make them even more dangerous is the presence of lightning. Lightning is profoundly unsettling because of its unpredictability and the fact that it can strike as far as 10 miles away from where it’s raining. It’s important to be educated about what you should and should not do during a thunderstorm – here are a few helpful tips:

  1. Do not use electrical equipment: This includes corded phones, computers, laundry machines and air conditioners. These devices generate electricity, making them magnets for lightning strikes, and should be avoided at all costs and unplugged long before the storm.
  2. Avoid making contact with plumbing: You may not know this, but your plumbing and the fixtures in your bathroom can also be conductors for dangerous amounts of electricity. Do not run your taps during thunderstorms.
  3. Do not make contact with concrete walls or floors.
  4. Do not seek shelter in small, isolated structures: Instead, seek out sturdy, larger structures, which are less likely to incur damage in a thunderstorm.
  5. Avoid contact with anything that is metal: This last one is extremely important. You absolutely should not touch anything made of metal during a thunderstorm, whether you’re inside or outside. This includes vehicles, bicycles, and even golf clubs, all of which can conduct electricity and cause grievous bodily injury to you or your loved ones.

 

Make sure to educate your family about what not to do in a thunderstorm so that you are all prepared the next time a major storm hits – and, as always, please get in touch with us here at Paradise Exteriors if you’re interested in weather-proofing your home for extra protection.

While the rain of a thunderstorm can cause dramatic damage by itself, an aspect of thunderstorms that make them even more dangerous is the presence of lightning. Lightning is profoundly unsettling because of its unpredictability and the fact that it can strike as far as 10 miles away from where it’s raining. It’s important to be educated about what you should and should not do during a thunderstorm – here are a few helpful tips:

  1. Do not use electrical equipment: This includes corded phones, computers, laundry machines and air conditioners. These devices generate electricity, making them magnets for lightning strikes, and should be avoided at all costs and unplugged long before the storm.
  2. Avoid making contact with plumbing: You may not know this, but your plumbing and the fixtures in your bathroom can also be conductors for dangerous amounts of electricity. Do not run your taps during thunderstorms.
  3. Do not make contact with concrete walls or floors.
  4. Do not seek shelter in small, isolated structures: Instead, seek out sturdy, larger structures, which are less likely to incur damage in a thunderstorm.
  5. Avoid contact with anything that is metal: This last one is extremely important. You absolutely should not touch anything made of metal during a thunderstorm, whether you’re inside or outside. This includes vehicles, bicycles, and even golf clubs, all of which can conduct electricity and cause grievous bodily injury to you or your loved ones.

 

Make sure to educate your family about what not to do in a thunderstorm so that you are all prepared the next time a major storm hits – and, as always, please get in touch with us here at Paradise Exteriors if you’re interested in weather-proofing your home for extra protection.

 

If you need more info on The Dangers of Lightning, call Paradise Exteriors, LLC at 844-749-2121, or fill out our online request form.

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