Be Prepared if Lightning Strikes!

8/15/2018 (Permalink)

Stay safe during a thunderstorm that brings lightning with it!

We say in Chicagoland wait a few minutes and the weather will change.  These are words to prepare for in the event of a thunderstorm that brings lightning with it!  If possible, postpone your trip or activity if the weather forecast calls for a thunderstorm.  If you need to venture out in the storm here are a few tips from the CDC to keep you safe:

Safety tips for Outdoors:

• Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter.
• The main lightning safety guide is the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
• If no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away.
• Stay away from concrete floors or walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Safety Tips for Indoors:

• Avoid water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing.
• Avoid electronic equipment of all types. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems.
• Avoid corded phones. However, cordless or cellular phones are safe to use during a storm.
• Avoid concrete floors and walls.

Lightning strikes may be rare, but they still happen and the risk of serious injury or death is severe. So take thunderstorms seriously.

SERVPRO of Gold Coast / Lincoln Park / Lakeview is here in your community, if you experience any Flood Damage due to Thunderstorms, give us a call at 773-935-6750.