I don’t know about everybody else, but we had a really bad storm two weekends ago. The roar sounded like the house would blow away, and the thunder and lightning were terrible. Our poor dog almost had a stroke.
Turns out, with the way she was acting, she was right. We were the ones who didn’t take the storm seriously enough. After seeing the damage outside the next morning, we should have. Next time, we’ll be more aware.
Since lightning can enter buildings through a direct strike, wire or pipes that extend outside the building or through the ground, the National Weather Service advises the public on the following precautions during severe storms:
• Stay off corded phones. You can use cell or cordless phones.
• Do not touch electrical equipment such as computers, televisions, or cords. You can use remote controls safely. Avoid plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower or wash dishes.
• Once in a structure, lightning can travel through the electrical, phone, plumbing and radio/television reception systems.
• Stay away from windows and doors that might have small leaks around the sides to let in lightning.
• Stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls.
• Protect your pets. Dog houses are not safe shelters. Dogs that are chained to trees or on metal runners are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes.
• Protect your property. Lightning generates electric surges that can damage electronic equipment some distance from the actual strike.
• Do not unplug equipment while a thunderstorm is in progress, as there is a risk you could be struck. To be prepared in advance, consider a complete lightning protection system for your home.
A complete system includes electrical surge protection devices for incoming power, data, and communication lines, and surge protection devices for vulnerable appliances. Properly installed lightning rods can protect the house from a direct strike and, in particular, a lightning-initiated fire.
While lightning rods help protect a structure by intercepting a lightning strike, and providing a conductive path for the harmful electrical discharge to follow, a complete lightning protection system is needed to help prevent harmful electrical surges and possible fires caused by lightning entering a structure via wires and pipes.
Lightning protection may also be needed for gas piping.
• Finally, if someone is struck by lightning, they may need immediate medical attention. Call 911 and monitor the victim. Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch.
Janine Rywak is the director of Anson County Extension Office.