Safety Indoors during a Thunderstorm

The Safe Electricity program urges everyone to be sure that their loved ones are aware of the dangers associated with lightning and how to protect themselves.

If thunderstorms and lightning are approaching, the safest location is indoors away from doors and windows with the shades drawn. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the area in which it is raining and you do not have to see clouds.  A direct strike is not necessary for lightning voltage to enter your home through phone lines, electrical wires, cables, and plumbing.

Avoid water, electric appliances, and other objects that could conduct electricity, and use only cordless or cell phones to make emergency calls. Other recommendations to avoid lightning shock and damage include:

• Turn off and unplug appliances well before a storm nears—never during. Do not expect a surge protector to save appliances from a lightning strike, unplug it as well.
• Stay away from electrical outlets, appliances, computers, power tools, and TVs. Take off headsets and stop playing video games.
• Turn off your air conditioner to protect the compressor from a power surge and avoid a costly repair job.
• Avoid water and contact with piping—including sinks, baths, and faucets. Do not wash dishes, shower, or bathe during a thunderstorm. Also avoid washers and dryers since they not only connect with the plumbing and electrical systems but also contain an electrical path from the outside through the dryer vent.
• Do not lie on the concrete floor of a garage as it likely contains a wire mesh.
• Basements typically are a safe place to go during thunderstorms, but avoid concrete walls that may contain metal rebar.
• Don’t forget your pets. Dog houses are not lightning-safe, and dogs chained to trees can easily fall victim to a strike.
• When the storm is over, wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike you see before going outside.

More information on lightning safety can be found at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. Additional storm safety information can be found at SafeElectricity.org.