Staying Safe In Your Home During A Lightening Storm

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

In addition to a direct strike, lightening can enter your home through plumbing, wiring, phone lines, even a television antenna on your roof. While the chances of being struck by lightening are remote, a strike from as far as 10 miles away can present a real danger. Here's how to stay safe:

1. Avoid plumbing altogether. No showers, baths, doing dishes or washing your hands. If you don't have to use the toilet, don't.

2.Don't touch electronics. Lightening will travel through wiring to get to the ground, so you don't want to be on anything that is plugged in.

3.Stay away from windows and doors. Metal around exterior windows and doors conducts electricity.

4. Close your blinds. Since storms often bring strong winds, and in some cases, hail, they can break windows. Closing the blinds limits how much glass or outside debris enters your home.

5.Stay away from concrete walls and floors. Be careful which surface you stand on, lie or lean against. Concrete is another conductor of electricity.

6. Wait a half hour before resuming your regular activities. Wait until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going outside, using water, or electronics. If you hear another rumble, start the count all over again. It could be a sign of another storm approaching.