Every year, Servpro answers the call to help clean up and restore homes and businesses after storm season has taken its toll. After all, when your property or the property of a client suffers storm damage, we excel in helping make it "Like it never even happened."
As the weather continues to warm up across the country, severe storms - such as tornados, flash floods and thunderstorms - wil become more likely. Of these forms of severe weather, lighning often gets the least attention. But did you kow that over the last 30 years, lighting strikes have claimed as many lives as tornadoes? According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are an estimated 25 million lighting strikes every year. An average of 62 people have died per year due to lightning strikes since 1978, and many more times that are injured from strikes.
Myths abound regarding lighting strikes and the best way to protect yourself should you be caught in a thunderstorm. Read the following items, courtesy of NOAA, to remind yourself how to stay safe this season.
MYTH
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
FACT
Lighting often strikes the same place twice, especially if it's a tall, pointy object. The Empire State Building is struck nearly 25 times per year!
MYTH
If clouds aren't over my head and it isn't raining, lighting poses no threat to me.
FACT
Lighting often strikes more than three miles outside from the thunderstorm and has been known to traval as far as 10-15 miles before striking the ground.
MYTH
"Heat lightning" occurs after a very hott summer day and poses no threat.
FACT
"Heat lightning"is just a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away to be heard.
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