Emergency - Lightning

	Home | Contact Us Jump to... 72 Hour Kits Chart Your Progress Chemical Emergency Communications Cooking Source Death Dry Packing Earthquakes Employment / Career Extras Extreme Winters Family Escape Plan Financial Fire Fire Starters First Aid Food Storage Gardening Heat Heat Waves Helpful Hints Hurricanes Important Papers Important Phone Numbers Insurance Light Lightning Nuclear Disaster Personal Hygiene Physical Preparedness Prepare by the week Pressure Canning Recipes Review Questions Sanitation Sewing and Clothing Shelf Life of Food Shelter Snakes / Animals / Insects Spiritual Preparedness Sprouts Storage Areas Stress Management Surprise Theft Tools Tornado Utilities Water Wills and Trusts       Lightning Lightning is an underrated hazard that occurs during thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. When thunderstorms threaten your area, get inside a home, large building, or vehicles. If inside a building: Avoid bathtubs, water faucets, sinks, and other water sources. Metal pipes can conduct electricity. Avoid using the telephone except for emergencies If outside: if in a wooded area, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. If in an open area, go to a low place such as a ravine, valley, or culvert. Be alert for flash floods. Do not stand under isolated trees in open areas. They are the most likely to be hit. If you feel your hair stand on end (which indicates that lightning is about to strike), drop to your knees, bend forward, and put your hands on your knees. Do not lie flat on the ground. Do not stand on hilltops, in open fields, on beaches, or in a boat on the water. Stay low. Avoid isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas. Get away from open water Get away from anything metal: tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, bicycles, utility poles, umbrellas, etc. Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes, rails, and other metallic paths which could carry lightning to you from a distance away. Surge protectors and lightning rids are always advisable for electric and electronic equipment fi not unplugging them altogether.