This morning, I finished my pushups and sit ups and was ready to go out and run when I heard the rain. The rain was steady, so I checked the radar to see how long the rain might hang around. Then, I heard thunder. I sat back down and pulled off my shoes because I can wait until tomorrow to go run.
Every year people get killed by lightning. Many of these are out for leisure reasons. 64% of people from 2006 to 2014 were killed by lightning were out playing golf, fishing, running, or hiking—or many other reasons to be outside.
It is very important to go indoors when we hear thunder. This year, 2015, the lightning deaths have nearly doubled from the previous four years. So, it is important that we are all aware to stay indoors when there is lightning around. People have told me their many different ways to avoid lightning—but there is NO safe place outdoors, so the safest place to be is indoors.
Today’s technology is amazing. There are apps like those with the Weather Underground “Storm” app that can tell you when a lightning storm is approaching and when lightning is striking close to you. Close, however, does not mean one block away. Lightning can strike up to ten miles away from the storm itself. So, the advice is really good; “When thunder roars, go indoors”.
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This blog post is written as a part of my partnership with the National Weather Service “Weather Ready Nation Ambassador” program.