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Thunderstorm hazards
Thunderstorms sometimes harbor dangers, e.g. B. Storm damage from squalls or tornadoes, flooding from heavy rain and damage from hail. Lightning damage, for example short circuits, fires or even injuries, occurs less frequently. Since the invention of the lightning rod, most homes have been protected from lightning. However, lightning strikes still occur in farms, which often result in major fires. Staying in forests during a thunderstorm is sometimes life-threatening. If lightning strikes a tree, it may explode.
The danger of a lightning strike still exists at some distance from the actual thunderstorm cell. There are even reports of lightning strikes from blue skies.
In order not to be injured by lightning, one should observe the following rules:
One`s own safety depends on anticipatory behavior: A thunderstorm never comes "out of the blue". Anyone who always looks up at the sky can recognize an approaching thunderstorm early on from the dark and threatening clouds. once the thunderstorm has been noticed, a safe haven should be sought. Based on the time difference between lightning (speed of light) and thunder (speed of sound, approx. 340 meters/second), the distance of the lightning can be calculated.
If possible, stay away from water taps and showers in buildings, through which the lightning current can also get inside a building. You should also not use a landline phone if it is a corded one. If lightning strikes the line, you have a good connection to earth with the telephone receiver in your hand. Cordless telephones, on the other hand, do not pose a danger due to their construction. However, in this case you should only make telephone calls with participants you know for sure they also use cordless telephones or cell phones or are outside the thunderstorm area. Basically, to protect the electrical equipment in the household, socket strips with overvoltage protection are ideal, this protects the respective device from the voltage peaks caused by a lightning strike.
In order not to be injured by lightning, one should observe the following rules:
- Take shelter in buildings or vehicles. Cars act like a Faraday cage and thus offer maximum security. Since bathtubs, shower trays and water pipes are grounded and therefore carry lightning currents in the event of a lightning storm, you should not bathe or shower during a thunderstorm.
- Avoid hills and mountain passes in open terrain.
- Avoid staying in water and swimming pools.
- Put your feet close together, squat down, keep your arms close to your body and duck your head.
- Avoid staying under trees, masts and towers, because lightning often strikes high objects, especially if they are free.
- Avoid cave entrances and narrow hollows.
One`s own safety depends on anticipatory behavior: A thunderstorm never comes "out of the blue". Anyone who always looks up at the sky can recognize an approaching thunderstorm early on from the dark and threatening clouds. once the thunderstorm has been noticed, a safe haven should be sought. Based on the time difference between lightning (speed of light) and thunder (speed of sound, approx. 340 meters/second), the distance of the lightning can be calculated.
If possible, stay away from water taps and showers in buildings, through which the lightning current can also get inside a building. You should also not use a landline phone if it is a corded one. If lightning strikes the line, you have a good connection to earth with the telephone receiver in your hand. Cordless telephones, on the other hand, do not pose a danger due to their construction. However, in this case you should only make telephone calls with participants you know for sure they also use cordless telephones or cell phones or are outside the thunderstorm area. Basically, to protect the electrical equipment in the household, socket strips with overvoltage protection are ideal, this protects the respective device from the voltage peaks caused by a lightning strike.
