Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

Donna, thanks for posting this--what incredibly useful information! And that website handles this very serious subject with lightness and humor, making it that much easier to absorb a lot of good points. And for those who, like the people in the swimming pool, insist on putting themselves in harm's way, I can only think of the annual Darwin Awards (people who through their own stupidity and pigheadedness are 'safely' removed from the gene pool--no pun intended...), except it may not apply to us old coots in TV....

Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

Along these lines, what about flagpoles? Would a flagpole in the front yard attract lightning? :dontknow:

Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

Interesting ....

http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/haz..._thunder.shtml

Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

uujudy,

Just received word from a reliable source, Your flagpole would make an excellent lightening rod if it is any type of metal.

Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

Avoid being in or near high places (tanks / towers / stacks) or open fields or under isolated trees, under communication towers, flagpoles, metal fences..

Lightning Safety
The ‘30/30' rule for lightning safety could save your life. The first ‘30' means that you need to
take cover if you hear thunder within 30 seconds of the lightning flash (‘flash to bang’ ratio).

Then wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or thunder in order to resume
normal activity - the “all clear” signal. Lightning research has confirmed that consecutive
lightning strikes can occur as much as six miles apart. People often do not perceive lightning
to be close if it is two miles or more away, but the risk of the next strike being at your location
may actually be very high. Many lightning casualties occur in the beginning as a
thunderstormapproaches because people ignore these precursors. When thunderstorms are
in the area but not overhead, the lightning threat can exist even if it is sunny at your location.

Practice the ‘30/30' rule and be lightning safe !
If you are outside, get into an enclosed building;
large, substantially constructed buildings
tend to be much safer than smaller or open
structures, or in an all-metal (not
convertible) vehicle.

In general, fully enclosed, all metal vehicles with
the windows rolled up provide good shelter
fromlightning. Avoid contact with metal.
Inside a home, avoid using the telephone except
for emergencies. Also, stay away from
windows.

AVOID being in or near high places and open
fields, isolated trees, unprotected gazebos,
rain or picnic shelters, baseball dugouts,
towers, flagpoles, light poles, bleachers of
any type, metal fences, convertible
vehicles, golf carts, motorcycles, scooters,
riding lawn mowers, or water (ocean, lakes,
swimming pools, rivers, ponds, etc.).
Move away from open water or fromopen
tractors or other farmequipment.
Stay away fromwire fences, clotheslines, metal
pipes, rails or other metallic paths which
could carry lightning from some distance
away.

In a forest seek shelter in a low area under a
thick growth of small trees. In open areas,
go to a low place such as a ravine or valley.
Be alert for flash floods.
If you feel your hair stand on end, lightning may
be about to strike. Stay on the balls of your
feet but crouch down and make as low a
target of yourself as possible. Do not lie
flat on the ground.

Remember, there is no truth to the old myth that
"lightning never strikes twice.”

Re: When Lightning Strikes People..
 

Thank You! :bigthumbsup:
What a wonderful wealth of weather wisdom!
This is very valuable information!