What to Do When Lightning Strikes!

· Know the right places to go: The NOAA notes the best place to be during a lightning storm is inside a large, enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. Plumbing and electrical wiring will conduct electricity more efficiently than a human body, so the safest place to be when lighting is present is inside a building, such as a home, office or shopping center. If buildings are inaccessible, the NOAA recommends retreating to an enclosed metal vehicle.· Avoid unsafe retreats: A picnic pavilion at a local park or a baseball dugout at an outdoor athletic complex are unsafe during storms featuring lightning because they feature exposed openings. The NOAA also notes that golf carts and any vehicles with open cabs are unsafe. The NOAA advises against seeking shelter from lightning in beach shacks, metal sheds and carports, particularly when safer retreats are accessible.

· Avoid bathing during a lightning storm: Adults may recall their parents not bathing them during lightning storms when they were children, and that cautionary measure is more than mere superstition. Water and metal are good conductors of electricity, so the NOAA advises against taking a bath or shower during a lightning storm.

· Unplug devices if you plan to use them during a storm: Avoid using desktop computers during lightning storms, as such devices typically need to be plugged in for users to access them. If you must use devices like a smartphone or tablet during a lighting storm, be sure to unplug them from wall outlets before doing so.

· Keep your hands off the radio dial and ignition when riding a storm out in a car:  Radio dials, touch screens and ignitions should not be touched when sheltering in a vehicle during a lightning storm. The conducting paths in radios, ignitions, and touchscreens lead to the outside of the vehicle, making people who touch them vulnerable to lighting strikes.