Lightning Safety Tips
One of the inevitable perils Florida residents are faced with is lightning. During a lightning storm a house or other substantial building offer the best protection from lightning. When choosing a place of shelter it is important to consider what will happen if the structure gets struck by lightning, rather than whether the structure will be hit. It is important that the structure contains a mechanism for conducting the electrical current from the point of contact to the ground.
Some of thunderstorms most potent associations include:
- Lightning – Lightning kills approximately 80 people per year and injures approximately 500. This death toll is higher than tornadoes and hurricanes combined.
- Hail – As far as hail is concerned, hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm and the chunks of hail can reach 120 mph.
Some tips to protect your property include:
- Put your home on a surge protection system.
- Unplug appliances.
- Learn what type of roof is appropriate for homes located in your area.
- Remove dead or overhanging branches that could potentially fall on your house if the tree is struck.
- If there is a report of a thunderstorm, park your car in an area where it will be protected, such as a parking garage.
Approximately 1 in every 200 homes are struck by lightning every year
This is a large number. It is important that you make sure your home is thunderstorm ready. It is also important to review your insurance coverage to be sure your home is properly covered.
How to protect yourself
V.W. Gould Agency offers this information to assist you in making decisions that will help mitigate your risk. We hope that you will consider which of these tips may help you to better protect your family and yourself.
