National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

At the Beach

 

I live in the deadliest state for lightening, Florida. Unfortunately, I let a friend talk me out of using my better judgement one day. We were in Naples, FL, enjoying a day at the beach. I saw the storm coming from the Glades and told him several times that we needed to leave.

Being from the Northwest, he did not believe me. Finally, the thunder was very close and we started to leave. A bolt struck in the grassy area beside us and I was struck by a secondary finger. It ran through my body and out of my toe without leaving damage. Two days later I began feeling lethargy and a growing headache. A trip to the ER revealed a concussion. I learned my lesson.