Spring is here and before we know it flowers will be blooming, baseball will begin, and the weather will change every five minutes. That’s why we should all be prepared for a common spring weather custom: the thunderstorm. Unfortunately, Unprepared Ursula already got caught in one. Good thing the Red Cross’s Team Preparedness was nearby to help!
All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes. Heavy rain can lead to flash flooding. High winds can cause damage to homes, overturn vehicles, and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Many strong thunderstorms can even produce hail which can injure people and animals. If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter. Get out of structures, such as mobile homes, that are susceptible to being blown over in high winds.
If you are inside you should:
•Use a NOAA Weather Radio or listen to a local station on a battery-powered radio or television for updated emergency information.
•Draw the blinds and shades over windows and unplug appliances.
•Avoid taking a bath or shower, or running water for any other purpose.
•Turn off the air conditioner.
•Maintain direct control of your animals.
If you are outside you should:
•Find shelter immediately in a substantial, permanent, enclosed structure.
•If there is no reinforced building in sight, take shelter in a vehicle. If no suitable structure or vehicle is available, go to low-lying, open place away from trees, poles, or metal objects.
•If you are in the woods, find an area protected by a low clump of trees.
•Avoid tall structures, such as towers, tall trees, fences, telephone lines, and power lines.
•Stay away from natural lightning rods, such as golf clubs, tractors, fishing rods, bicycles, and camping equipment,
If you are driving:
•Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road and stop away from any trees or tall objects that could fall. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain subsides.
•Avoid contact with metal or other conducting services outside or inside the vehicle.
•Avoid flooded roads.
Facts and Fiction
Fiction: If it is not raining, there is no danger from lightning.
Facts: Lightning often strikes outside heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles (16 kilometers) away from any rainfall. This is especially true in the western United States where thunderstorms sometimes produce very little rain.
Fiction: The rubber soles of shoes or rubber tires on a vehicle will protect you from being struck by lightning.
Facts: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires do not provide protection from lightning. The steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching the metal. Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your vehicle, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
Fiction: People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
Facts: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.
Fiction: Heat lightning occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
Facts: “heat lightning” is a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard. All lightning is dangerous.
Fiction: Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.
Facts: Just because lightning struck a place once does not make it less likely that it will strike again in the same place. In fact, it may indicate that the place is more vulnerable to lightning strikes than other places in the immediate area.
Kathrine
Kathrine Vigil is the AmeriCorps NPRC Response Member for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.