American Red Cross Offers Safety Tips Regarding
Thunderstorms and Lightning
News Release: July 12, 2000
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy the out of doors. It's also an ideal time for thunder and lightning storms. The Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross provides the following information and tips for staying safe during inclement summer weather:
What is a thunderstorm? A thunderstorm is formed from a combination of moisture, rapidly rising warm air, and a force capable of lifting air, such as the meeting of a warm and cold front. Lightning is an electrical discharge that results from the buildup of positive and negative charges within a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms can bring heavy rain that can cause flash flooding, strong winds, hail, lightning and tornadoes.
Weather watch or weather warning?: The National Weather Service continuously broadcasts updated weather warnings and forecasts that can be received by television and radio. Know the meaning of watch and warning. A severe thunderstorm watch is issued by the National Weather Service when the weather conditions are such that a severe thunderstorm is likely to develop. This is the time to locate a safe place in the home and tell family members to watch the sky and listen to the television and/or radio for further information.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. At this point, the danger is very serious and everyone should be in a safe place.
Before lightning strikes: · Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder and static on your radio. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.
· Listen to television and/or radio for the latest weather forecasts.
When a storm approaches: · Find shelter in a building or car. Keep car windows closed and avoid convertibles.
· Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances.
· Avoid taking a bath or shower or running water for any other purpose.
· Turn off the air conditioner. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressor, resulting in a costly repair job.
· Draw blinds and shades over windows. If windows break due to objects blown by the wind, the shades will prevent glass from shattering into your home.
If caught outside: · Attempt to get into a building or car.
· If no structure is available, go to a low-lying, open place avoiding isolated tall trees, towers, wire fences, telephone and power lines, and metal objects such as golf clubs and metal tools.
· Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible. Do not lie flat on the ground.
· If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees.
· If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately.
If in a car: · Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road away from any trees that could fall on the vehicle.
· Stay in the car and turn on the emergency flasher until the heavy rains subside.
· Avoid flooded roadways.
After the storm: · Report downed utility wires.
· Drive only if necessary, avoiding storm-damaged areas.
· Listen to the radio and/or television for information and instructions.
· Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance -- infants, elderly people and people with disabilities.
If you have lost power: · Do not open the refrigerator or freezer. If the power outage is 2 hours or less, you need not be concerned about food spoilage. If you have a full freezer and the power is restored within 24 hours, the food should be okay. If the power in the refrigerator is out for more than 2-4 hours, it is best to discard the perishables.
· To report a power outage or related emergency and you are a customer of PPL, call 1-800-342-5775; for GPU Energy, call 1-800-545-7738.
These safety tips also are available in a printed brochure and by phone by calling Valley Wide Help, a 24-hour information and referral service provided by the Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross.
To speak to a Valley Wide Help representative regarding these tips, call (610) 435-7111 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays. A recorded message of these safety tips can be heard at all other times by calling (610) 435-7111 and pressing 1.
The printed brochure titled "Thunderstorm" is available by calling the Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross at (610) 865-4400. The brochure is available in both English and Spanish and is free.
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross serves more than 550,000 residents in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 14,000 Lehigh Valley residents.
