When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! June 19th-25th is Lightning Safety Awareness Week

The National Weather Service and its lightning safety partners urge the public, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”

Lightning is a dangerous force of nature common to Kentucky each summer. In a typical year, there are over half a million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes across the Commonwealth, and over the past 20 years, there have been 15 deaths attributed to lightning across the state. On average, lightning kills over 50 people across the U.S. each year. Those that survive a strike are often left with life-long neurological damage.

The National Weather Service has set aside the week of June 19th through 25th as Lightning Safety Awareness Week. This week provides a good opportunity to learn about lightning safety.

To avoid being struck by lightning, the National Weather Service recommends that you:

Get into a fully enclosed building or hardtop vehicle at the first rumble of thunder;
Wait 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before venturing back outdoors;
Monitor the weather forecast when you’re planning to be outdoors;
Have a plan for getting to safety in case a thunderstorm moves in;
Do not use a corded phone during a thunderstorm; cell phones are safe to use;
Keep away from plumbing, electrical equipment and wiring during a thunderstorm.

Help us build a Weather-Ready East Kentucky by spreading the word about lightning safety. Click the images below to access several lightning safety resources and feel free to use these to spread the lightning safety message of "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!".


NWS Lightning Safety Website featuring media resources, statistics, facts and resources for kids	OSHA Fact Sheet: Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors	Lightning Safety Toolkits for Organizations & Large Venues. Get prepared and get recognized for your lightning safety efforts!	Lightning Safety Social Media Toolkit #LightningSafety

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