Lightning: Mitigation
Injuries and fatalities during a thunderstorm often result from people underestimating risks and not seeking appropriate shelter quickly enough in response to an approaching storm. Educational programs addressing the dangers of lightning are a necessary aspect of mitigation. These programs should particularly target organizations that host or sponsor outdoor activities for the public. Crowds of people at athletic events, from those gathered at youth soccer fields to those in college football stadiums, pose a particularly great risk. Follow the 30/30 rule: activities should be halted if thunder is heard within 30 seconds of an observed lightning flash and should not be resumed until 30 minutes after the last flash or report of thunder. The decision to suspend activities should provide ample time for people to clear the activity area. Weather radios should be monitored for alerts or warnings, and organizations should install warning systems to alert people to the impending threat of lightning. Individuals should seek shelter in locations that offer the highest degree of safety available. In open spaces, people should avoid high ground, water, isolated trees, open shelters, and manmade structures, such as flag poles, bleachers, and transmission towers, that stand much higher than the surrounding landscape. While no location is completely safe, large, enclosed buildings or enclosed metal vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses, vans, and fully enclosed farm vehicles are good choices for shelter. Lightning is also a real threat to livestock. Livestock frequently gather under trees during a thunderstorm, and a single strike can kill many animals. Moving animals into a shelter, preferably an enclosed one that is equipped with a lightning protection system, can reduce the risk to livestock. Burying utility lines, including electric and telephone lines can also reduce the likelihood of damage from lightning strikes. Traditional suspended lines are more much more likely to be struck and carry a lightning charge directly into a building, resulting in damage to electrical appliances and structural damage to the building.
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