Community Corner

5 Things to Know About Lightning

Keep your family safe by following these safety tips.

Thunderstorms are in the weather forecast for the Lehigh Valley right through Memorial Day weekend, so it’s a good time to review some tips designed to help keep your family safe.

Here are five things to know:

  1. Lightning can strike miles away from an area where it is actually raining. You are within striking distance if you can hear thunder. Seek shelter immediately if you are within striking distance.
  2. While inside, stay away from corded phones, computers and anything that can put you in direct contact with electricity.
  3. Stay away from pools (indoor or outdoor), tubs, showers and other plumbing.
  4. Wait 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder clap before going back outside.
  5. There are about 25 million lightning flashes in the U.S. each year and lightning kills more than 50 people annually.

Source: The National Weather Service

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