Go Indoors when Thunder Roars because Lightning is on the Way

Go indoors when thunder roars because lightning is on the way.  Lightning is one of the deadliest weather systems.  Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch offers this lightning safety advice.  “Stay off corded phones, computers, or any other electrical equipment that puts you in direct contact with the electricity.  Never take a shower or bath when a lightning storm happens.  Stay away from windows and doors and stay off of porches.  If you can hear thunder you are within striking distance of lightning.  Seek shelter immediately in a building or a hardtop vehicle.  Don’t go under trees for shelter.  There is really nowhere outside that is safe during a thunderstorm.  You need to wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder before leaving your shelter.”  There is no safe place outdoors when a thunderstorm is in the area. Lightning can strike from over 15 miles away. The chances are if you can hear thunder, you are already in immediate danger. A lot of lightning injuries and fatalities happen because people were too slow to react to an approaching storm or too quick to get back outdoors before the storm was a safe distance away.