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kaboom! today in weather history
by IrishiiiPublished Jun. 24, 2009
Views: 171
Lightning safety tip #1: Don’t take shelter in a shed full of dynamite
1924 - Six men working at a rock quarry near Winston-Salem, NC, sought shelter from a thunderstorm in a storage building with dynamite. Lightning struck a near-by tree causing the dynamite to explode. The men were killed instantly.
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Since this is lightning awareness week here is a replay of lightning myths:
MYTH: Lightning Never Strikes The Same Place Twice
TRUTH: Lightning usually strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall pointy isolated object.
MYTH: If It’s Not Raining, Or If Clouds Aren’t Overhead, I’m Safe From Lightning
TRUTH: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or even thunderstorm cloud. ‘Bolts From The Blue’ can strike 10-15 Miles from the thunderstorm. Especially in the south, children are often hit by lightning during sport events because referees are trying to finish the game before an approaching storm. If you can hear thunder, you can hit by lightning, even if it is clear in your immediate area.
MYTH: Rubber Tires Protect You From Lightning In A Car By Insulating You From The Ground
TRUTH: Most cars are reasonably safe from lightning. But it’s the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, not the rubber tires. Thus convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, open shelled outdoor recreational vehicles offer no lightning protection. Likewise, farm and construction vehicles with open cockpits offer no lightning protection.
MYTH: If Trapped Outside And Lightning Is About To Strike, Lie Flat On The Ground
TRUTH: This advice is decades out of date. Better advice is to use the ‘Lightning Crouch’: put your feet together, squat low, tuck your head, and cover your ears. Lightning induces electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 Feet away. While lying flat on the ground gets you as low as possible, which is good, it increases your chance of being hit by a ground current, which is bad. The best combination of being low and touching the ground as little as possible is the ‘Lightning Crouch’ If you are caught outside when it is lightning, and you feel tingly or your hair on your arms stands on end, crouch and hit the ground immediately!
MYTH: I’m In A House, I’m Safe From Lightning
TRUTH: While a house is a good place for lightning safety, just going inside isn’t enough. You must avoid any
conducting path leading outside, such as corded telephones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, plumbing (including plastic pipes with water in them), metal doors or window frames, etc. Don’t stand near a window to watch the lightning. Also, don’t take a shower or bath or talk on the telephone. Lightning surges frequently travel through plumbing and land line phones.
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That was a wayyy back.
Does anyone remember that?
God bless.
RB
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
June 24, 2009 10:12 a.m.
Yeah lightning is bright OutofTowner
GOLO member since July 26, 2007
June 24, 2009 9:40 a.m.
GOLO member since June 7, 2009
June 24, 2009 9:35 a.m.
GOLO member since March 6, 2008
June 24, 2009 9:17 a.m.
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