Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. Florida leads the nation in strikes, casualties, injuries and lightning related deaths. An average of  73 people a year are killed by lightning strikes according to the NOAA office. This is the number that is on record. The NOAA suspects it really is about 100 to 120 deaths per year caused by lightning.  There are about 300 lightning related injuries that are reported and many more that go unreported. I was amazed to find out that more people are killed each year from lightning strikes than from Tornados and Hurricanes! Lightning strikes are the leading weather related deaths in Florida with more deaths than all other weather conditions combined. Central Florida from Tampa to Titusville is called, 'Lightning Alley' in the United States. 

The danger of lightning typically occurs during the summer months. There are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes each year. It is fascinating to watch but do not underestimate its’ power! It is very dangerous and deadly. Lightning only strikes its’ victims one or two at a time so it gets much less attention than a flood, tornado or hurricane does. According to the National Weather Service 5 people have died from Lightning strikes in Florida so far this year. When you see lightning you are actually watching  a channel being formed with an electrical transfer taking place. These channels heat up to about 30,000 degrees Fareneheit. The fast expansion of this heated air breaks the sound barrier and that is why you hear thunder after a strike. One lightning strike generates between 100 million to 1 Billion bolts of electricity.   

If you hear thunder; get inside right away because lightning can strike as far away as 10 miles from the storm. Most lightning deaths occur after the storm has passed, the most powerful strikes are right before and right after a storm. There is no way to predict the time and location that lightning will strike. Most people know to get out of the storm but the problem is that they fail to understand that most strikes happen before and after the storm and that direct hits are not the only ones that strike but the underlying currents of electricity that is generated from the strikes is often the killer. 

51% of lightning casualties happen out in the open especially in high elevations, in open sports fields and on golf courses. 14% of deadly strikes happen to boaters and swimmers. 25% are hit while under the shelter of a tree. Do not use trees as shelters from storms.

The Top Ten States For Fatalities: ( NOAA)

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. North Carolina
4. Ohio
5. New York
6. Louisiana
7. Tennessee
   
8. Maryland
9. Pennsylvania
10. Colorado

Hawaii and Alaska have the least amount of strikes of lightning and deaths by lightning. In fact since 1959 there have been no deaths by lightning in Hawaii or Alaska. 

Groups of people at high risk for lightning strikes are golfers and boaters. If you are a boater you must take extra precautions. Keep a weather radio with you on your boat. Listen for storms heading your way. If a storm is building head back to shore. Your boat may be the highest point in the water which will attract the lightning. Do not stay in the open. Outriggers, aluminum and electrical antennas are lightning rods. Buzzing sounds coming from your radio antennas or if your masthead begins to glow get to safety right away because this means that  lightning may strike within 5 minutes after you see the glow.

If you are on the beach get out of the water. Obey the lifeguards. As soon as they tell you to get out of the water go to the paved parking lots. Water and wet sand are great conductors of electricity. A lightning bolt can strike the beach and move down the beach traveling through the sand. We don’t usually think of how fast it can travel. When one of my sons was 3 years old he took a rechargeable flashlight and pushed it into a bad plug, the electricity currants looked just like lightning. The current which we could see very clearly ran up his hand, through his body, out through his bellybutton and all around the room before I could get that flashlight out of his hand. It was a miracle that he was fine after all of that! I knew then the power of electricity and lightning.

Use the 30-30 Rule. The first ‘30’ stands for 30 seconds. When you see a flash of lightning count to 30. If you hear the thunder before you get to 30, the lightning is most likely close enough to hit you. The second ‘30’stands for 30 minutes. Wait at least 30 minutes before going outside again after you seeing the last flash of lightning.

• Do not go into an open garage or carport, covered patio or near an open window. If you have a metal topped car stay there. 
  
• Do not stand in puddles even with rubber boots on.
  
• Get out of the pool, ocean or waterways. Remember to get off the sand if you are on the beach.
  
• Do not use metal objects like golf clubs or fishing rods.
  
• Do not use the shelter of a tree even if it is the only shelter. Crouch down in the open curled up with your head covered with your hands if you can not get to a shelter. Use this only as a last resort. Do not be the tallest thing around.
  
• Stop tractors and any thing moving metal objects.
  
• Do not use your telephone inside your house. Telephone use is the leading cause of death by lightning indoors.
  
• Turn off VCRs, computers and televisions. Do not use electrical appliances during a storm.

Stay Safe, Play Smart and Spread the word about lightning safety by sending this article to your friends and family members. This information applies throughout the U.S. Don't underestimate the power of Lightning! 

Copyright © 2007 By Katerina Gasset, All Rights Reserved

Photo courtesy of Harald Edens. Permission granted to use from NOAA lightning strikes photo files. 

The material herein may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published. All rights reserved. Plagiarism will be detected and is punishable by law. Lightning Strikes, Know the Dangers and the Precautions. 

Contact Nestor and Katerina Gasset for all your Wellington Florida Real Estate Needs at 561-753-0135.