(NETWORK INDIANA) “When thunder roars, go indoors.”
It’s a phrase you hear all the time. It’s something meteorologists are repeating a lot this week, during Lightning Safety Preparedness Week.
Joseph Nield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, knows that many people like to go outside during a thunderstorm and take photos and videos, but calls it a dangerous risk.
“If you are outdoors when thunderstorms are around, you are taking your life into your own hands,” Nield said.
The number of deaths due to lightning strikes have increased over the last ten years, according to Nield. He says 45-60 people die every year from being struck by lightning.
So, if you’re away from your house, what kind of building should you go inside during a storm?
Nield says something very sturdy.
“We’re not talking about a shed, or one of those pavilions at a park,” he says. “You need something that’s going to direct a charge from a strike around you and into the ground.”
If you are outside during a thunderstorm and have no strong buildings to go inside, Nield says staying in your car is better than just being out in the open. Just don’t touch anything metal in your car.
To learn more, go to www.weather.gov/safety/lightning.
