While you cannot prevent lightning from striking your house, you can take crucial steps to prevent being struck by lightning indoors and ensure your safety during a thunderstorm. The primary goal is to avoid direct or indirect contact with lightning current that can travel through your home's conductive systems.
Essential Indoor Lightning Safety Tips
Staying indoors during a lightning storm is generally safer than being outside. However, even inside, certain precautions are vital to minimize risk. Lightning can travel through electrical systems, plumbing, and even the ground or concrete.
Here’s a breakdown of the critical actions to take:
1. Disconnect from Electrical and Electronic Devices
During a lightning storm, electrical surges caused by lightning can travel through power lines into your home. This makes electrical equipment a potential hazard.
- Stay off corded phones: Unlike cordless or mobile phones, corded phones provide a direct path for electricity.
- Avoid computers and other electrical equipment: This includes gaming consoles, televisions, and major appliances. If possible, unplug them before the storm hits, but do not touch anything that is plugged in during a storm as a surge could happen at that moment.
- Do not touch outlets or switches: Avoid turning lights on or off, or unplugging devices once the storm is active.
2. Avoid Contact with Plumbing Systems
Water pipes are excellent conductors of electricity. Lightning can travel through the plumbing system if your house is struck or if lightning strikes nearby ground and disperses through the utility lines.
- Do not use sinks, baths, or faucets: This means no showering, washing dishes, or running water for any reason.
- Stay out of bathtubs and showers: These are particularly dangerous due to the combination of water and metal plumbing fixtures.
3. Keep Away from Windows, Doors, and Porches
Lightning can strike outside your home and travel through openings or conductive elements near them.
- Stay away from windows and doors: Avoid standing near them or looking out, as lightning can cause objects to shatter or conductive materials around them to become electrified.
- Do not stay on porches: Porches, especially those with metal railings or support structures, can be struck or become electrified. Move into the main part of the house.
4. Avoid Contact with Concrete Floors and Walls
Concrete, particularly if it contains metal rebar (reinforcement bars), can conduct electricity.
- Do not lie on concrete floors: Especially those in basements or on the ground level, as they can be pathways for lightning current.
- Do not lean against concrete walls: Similarly, walls that contain rebar can become energized during a lightning strike.
Summary of Indoor Lightning Safety Measures
The following table summarizes the key areas of concern and the actions to take to stay safe indoors:
| Hazard Area | What to Avoid | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Systems | Corded phones, computers, electrical equipment | Electricity can conduct lightning currents. |
| Plumbing Systems | Sinks, baths, faucets | Water pipes are excellent conductors of electricity. |
| Building Openings | Windows, doors, porches | Lightning can enter through openings or strike nearby. |
| Conductive Surfaces | Concrete floors, concrete walls | Concrete, especially with rebar, can conduct electricity. |
By following these guidelines, you significantly reduce your risk of injury or fatality from lightning strikes while inside your home. Remember, the safest place to be during a thunderstorm is a fully enclosed building, but personal actions are still crucial for protection.
