Did you know that lightning strikes more than eight million times a day worldwide ? Or that a single lightning bolt is five times hotter than the sun’s surface?[1]
While there may be a lot of “fun facts” about lightning, what’s not fun is getting stuck in a thunderstorm. In fact, it can be outright dangerous if you don’t take the right precautions.
That’s why we’re here with seven steps to take to prepare for a thunderstorm so you keep yourself, your family and your assets safe.
2. Make a shelter plan
Think ahead about where you’d seek shelter during a thunderstorm, especially if you aren’t home when one occurs. Identify sturdy buildings in your neighborhood or near your workplace that you could easily get to at the start of a storm. Take time before a storm hits to develop a family emergency plan.
Assuming you will be home during a severe storm warning, choose a safe place for you, your family, and your pets to gather inside. Prepare a family communication plan to reach all family members. Remember to stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could break and cause harm during strong winds. Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is up to date. Carbon monoxide poisoning is common when people use generators after a power outage in too enclosed a space.[3]
3. Trim your trees
After you’ve found the best places in your home to take shelter, you need to make sure that shelter is safe. Head outdoors to investigate whether any trees need to be trimmed to avoid having them fall on your home.
Obviously, any large branches overhanging your home should be looked at and potentially trimmed back. But you should also maintain your trees with structural pruning to prevent smaller branches from falling and knocking through windows in the event of high winds. This means reducing the length of thinning and weak branches that are too long, which will improve overall tree architecture and minimize damage from storms. Make sure to remove any dead branches you see as well. If you suspect a tree is sick or dying, consult with an arborist to see what can be done.
4. Secure outdoor objects
In addition to trimming trees, there are some other important steps to take to prepare your home if you have advance warning a storm is coming. Secure outdoor objects like chairs and grills. Put smaller objects that could become projectiles away in sheds or garages. Pay attention to any metal objects that could become a lightning rod.
5. Make an emergency kit
Next, look around the house for any and all supplies that would be helpful during a thunderstorm, such as:
- Surge protectors in the event of power surges
- flashlights and lanterns
- Battery-powered radio
- Bottled water and canned goods (in case you lose power for a period of time)
- First aid kit
Consider investing in a lightning protection system to guard your home, appliances and electronic equipment from damage.
6. Take cover during the storm
When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning goes into effect, that’s your cue to take shelter. Find the safest location within your home or other sturdy building, making sure those who need extra assistance (including your pets) make their way to the designated spot.
If you’re outdoors when a storm starts, head inside as soon as possible. As an alternative, you can get inside your car; while it’s not as safe as being indoors, it’s better than staying outside. It’s the metal (not the wheels as is often thought) that will give you some protection, because the metal shell disperses the lightning around you and to the ground.
If you aren’t near your car and are in an open area, your next best bet is to stay low to the ground, so you’re not the tallest object in the storm’s path. Avoid being near anything metal. If you’re in or near water, get out or move away, since water is a conductor of electricity.
7. Assess the damage
When the thunder stops booming and the last flash of lightning strikes, you may think you’re out of harm’s way. However, continue listening to local news or NOAA Weather Radio to make sure another storm isn’t headed in your direction.[5]
Once you’re in the clear, take a minute and send messages to your family and friends letting them know you’re OK and making sure they aren’t in need of any help. Texts and social media are often the best forms of communication after a storm because phones aren’t always as reliable.
When assessing damage in and around your home, do so with caution. Wear protective clothing, and stay away from damaged buildings or downed power lines. Take pictures of any damage to your house or vehicle for use as documentation when submitting an insurance claim. And don’t wait long to do so – insurance companies usually limit the time you have for making a claim, so you don’t want to miss your window.
Now that you have the facts for emergency preparedness, you’ll be ready to ride out the next storm until the sun shines again.