Joe Foster's Blog

Welcome to Florida and welcome to the lightning capital of the United States. Lightning strikes in Central Florida this time of year more often than anywhere else and is the most deadly. It kills more people each year than hurricanes and tornadoes.

ABC 7's Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan advises, "Be weather savvy; know that there are thunderstorms that can develop very quickly here and they can release lightning flashes within 20 minutes of that storm developing," says Harrigan.

If you live in Florida, or are visiting, it is critical to be informed about lightning and to know what to do if you are caught in a lightning storm.

Facts & Myths About Lightning

The rubber tires on a car can protect you. False. It's the metal framework of the car that dissipates the force of the lightning. The tires have nothing to do with it. As long as you don't touch any part connected to the vehicle's frame, a hard top car, bus, truck or van is safer than being outside.

The average lightning bolt is only one inch in diameter. True. That one inch bolt can carry as much as 100 million-plus volts and pack heat to 50,000-degrees Fahrenheit -- that is three times hotter than the surface of the sun.

Lightning never strikes the same spot twice. False. Although not in Florida, the Empire State Building in New York City is hit an average of 25 times per year.

If you get struck by lightning, you will die. False. Lightning kills about 100 people and injures another 500 in the United States each year. Actually, only 10 percent of people struck by lightning die, however, most survivors do suffer lifelong severe medical problems such as memory loss, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sleep dysfunction, attention deficit and irritability.

A storm must be directly overhead to be dangerous. False. Lightning is unpredictable. It can strike up to 25 miles away from its parent storm. It can literally strike "out of the blue".

Do not touch a lightening victim. False. It's important to help a lightning victim immediately. The human body does not hold an electrical charge, so you can touch the injured person. Get them to a safe area, check their airway, breathing circulation, begin CPR if you know it, and obviously call 911. But it is safe to touch the person after they've been struck providing there are no wires down or other hazards around.

Learn how to protect yourself. Follow the tips below. . . and stay safe!

OUTDOOR SAFETY TIPS

• Follow the 30/30 rule. If the time between seeing the flash of lightning and hearing the thunder is less than 30 seconds, take shelter. You are in a strike zone.
• Immediately get away from pools, lakes and other bodies of water.
• Get off the beach.
• If you are boating/fishing, put down your fishing pole and head to shore. Keep away from metal objects not grounded to the vessel's protection system. And wear a life jacket at all times.
• Get off the golf course.
• Never use a tree as a shelter.
• Avoid standing near tall objects.
• Keep away from metal objects including bikes, golf carts, umbrellas, fencing, machinery, etc.
• Get indoors if at all possible or get in a hard-topped vehicle.
• Remain in shelter for 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning.

INDOOR SAFETY TIPS

• Stand clear of windows, doors and electrical appliances.
• Unplug appliances well before a storm nears - never during.
• Avoid contact with pipes including sinks, baths and faucets.
• Do not use the telephone except for emergencies - and then use cellular or cordless phones.

Experts say the bottom line during storm season is to be aware for your own safety. "It only takes one bolt...and it could be the first one," says Harrigan.