When lightning strikes ...

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PRINCETON — Complacency is not a friend when it comes to the weather, according to Kris Donarski, coordinator for the Bureau County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA).

On Wednesday, Donarski said lightning and thunderstorms can be a regular part of the summer season in Bureau County, but people should be very cautious and alert when dealing with storms.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and National Weather Service have designated this week, June 21-27, as Lightning Safety Awareness Week. The agencies have adopted the slogan “When the thunder roars, go indoors” as their catch-phrase to help people remember what to do.

“I know lightning and storms can be fascinating to watch, but the danger can be very underrated,” Donarski said. “Lightning can strike from up to 10 miles away. People think something like a lightning strike could never happen to them, but that’s just not true.”

If a person is caught outside during an electrical storm and cannot make it to a safe place, the person should make himself the lowest object around. Avoid all bodies of water. Stay away from isolated, tall trees, flagpoles, open fields or golf courses, railroad tracks, metal fences and stadium bleachers.

As a general safety rule, people should move indoors when they first hear thunder. Screened-in porches or opened garages are not safe places to stand to watch a storm.

Once indoors, there are other precautions to take since lightning strikes can occur through electric lines, Donarski said. People should not use electrical equipment during thunderstorms, including computers, corded phones or televisions. In fact, electrical equipment should be unplugged before the storm hits to prevent power surges. Also, people should avoid using water during storms, for instance by not taking baths or showers or using washing machines.

People should also be very cautious about heading back outside after storms have passed, Donarski said. The general guideline is to remain indoors for 30 minutes after a storm has passed through an area.

In looking at dangerous weather systems, Donarski said people are often more concerned about the dangers of tornadoes than lightning. However, statistics show lightning strikes are more frequent than tornadoes.

So far this year, 11 people have died in the United States from lightning strikes. Those people ranged in age from 10 years to 63 years. They were involved in activities such as walking to the car, jogging on the beach, riding a motorcycle on the highway and cutting the grass.

Again, Donarski said the basic guideline about lightning is if you can hear thunder, then the storm is close enough for lightning to strike.

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