These days thunderstorm or lightning news coming very frequently. Many casualty are happening.
Follow these steps to safety the next time there’s fire in the sky:
Find shelter immediately.
If you find yourself caught in a lightning storm, the key to minimizing danger is to get inside a protective structure. Never stand under a tall or short tree, and avoid being close to power lines as they're both excellent conductors of electricity and could potentially cause death, if not serious injury. Find shelter near or under a stony shelter.
- Substantial, frequently inhabited buildings (those grounded with plumbing, electrical systems, and, if possible, lightning rods) are best.
- If you can’t find a substantial structure, get in a car with a metal roof and sides. If the car is struck, the metal body will conduct the electricity around you, not through you. Make sure all windows are rolled up and doors are closed. Be careful not to lean against any metal -- if you do, the lightning will be conducted into your body if it strikes the car. Do not use the radio.
- Avoid small structures, such as stand-alone public restrooms. Open covering and rain shelters are also not suitable. These structures will attract lightning and provide no protection, making them more dangerous to be around.
- Standing under a tree is a very bad choice. Lightning strikes tall objects, and if the tree you are standing under is struck, you may be struck as well or injured by the tree.
- Stay away from windows. Keep windows closed, and try to stay within inner rooms of the structure. Windows provide a direct path for the lightning to travel.
- Don’t touch anything metal or electrical.
- Do not touch any electrical outlets during a storm. Do not unplug any devices during a lightning storm, as the strike could be transferred to you.Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls. Most concrete has a wire mesh which can conduct electricity.
Stay out of the bathtub or shower, and avoid indoor swimming pools.
In a car, try to avoid touching any part of the metal frame or the car's glass.
- Stay inside. Stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last strike. Don’t go out just because the rain is starting to let up. There is still a significant risk of lightning strikes from a departing storm.
- Move to a lower elevation. Lightning is much more likely to strike objects at higher elevations. Do what you can do get as low as possible.Avoid large open spaces where you are taller than anything else around you, like a golf course or soccer field.
- Stay away from isolated objects such as trees and light posts.
- Get away from unprotected vehicles, such as golf carts, and unprotected structures, such as picnic shelters. Avoid long metal structures.
- Get out of the water. If you are fishing or swimming, get out of the water immediately, and move away from the body of water. Being near water is extremely dangerous during a lightning storm.
- If you are caught in a lightning storm with a group of people, maintain a distance of at least 50–100 feet (15.2–30.5 m) between each person. This will reduce the risk of lightning traveling from one person to another.
- Remove your backpack. If you are hiking with a metal frame backpack, remove it as soon as you detect lightning. Make sure to leave it at least 100 feet (30.5 m) from wherever you are taking shelter.
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If you commute on a bike, you know that some precautions like the above are nearly impossible to follow in rain and lightning situations.
By the time you decide to stop and find shelter, you're already soaked and dripping water everywhere and no shop want to welcome you inside.
This is when you realize; to maximize shop space most commercial buildings by the roadside are built without a sunshade. Also, roadside shops are often situated right under / next to electric posts and 11kV power lines.
Finding a closed shop premises that has a sunshade to find shelter from rain and lightning by the roadside is quite challenging.
A few months ago while I was on the bike, I got caught in a downpour and lightning. Since the downpour was heavy and flooding the roads I decided to find shelter under a closed shop that also has a sunshade to protect from rain.
Just when I thought I was safe, lightning cracked nearby with a deafening boom. The power lines buzzed with lights and sound that shook the ground. It was a terrifying moment.
Some precautions are not practically possible every time, sometimes you have to hold on to luck.
Find a closed metalic structure like a car. You ll be safe inside it.