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Published Monday, August 02, 2010 in Local

Photo by Jeffrey Leo

This lightning bolt is seen from a bridge in Newnan. There have been three fatal lightning strikes in Georgia this year, more than in any other state. You can greatly reduce your risk of being struck by lightning by following a few simple guidelines — including never seeking shelter under a tree. All three Georgia teens who were killed were standing under trees when they were struck.

'When thunder roars, go indoors'

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

The lightning that comes along with pop-up summer thunderstorms can do much more that set houses afire and fry electrical transformers.

It can kill.

Already this year, three metro-Atlanta area teenagers, in two separate incidents, have been killed by lightning strikes -- all while doing one of the things you should never do in a lightning storm, taking shelter under a tree.

None of the teens suffered a direct hit, but they didn't have to for it to be fatal. Lightning struck the trees and radiated into their bodies.

Lightning strikes are the number-two weather-related cause of death in the U.S.

And while only about 10 percent of lightning incidents are fatal, survivors often deal with life-long effects.

Georgia is a high-risk state for lightning. On average, Georgia ranks ninth in the nation for lightning injuries. Florida is by far the worst state for lightning, with twice as many strikes affecting humans as in any other state.

But this year, Georgia is ground-zero for fatal lightning strikes, with three. North Carolina, Maryland, and Wyoming have had two deaths each. So far in 2010, there has only been one lightning-related fatality in Florida -- and that was a Georgia man. David Eugene Lee and his family, of Stockbridge, were fleeing a storm at St. Joe Beach on July 25 when he was struck.

Of the 21 fatal lightning incidents in the U.S. so far, nine involved trees, according to the National Weather Service. Three other victims were seeking shelter when they were killed.

Though no one ever knows where lightning will strike, much can be done to prevent lightning-related injury.

The number one rule is to quickly get to a safe place. As the National weather Service says, "When thunder roars, go indoors."

When lightning threatens, you don't want to be outside. A building with plumbing and electricity is the best. Second best is a hard-topped metal vehicle.

Other buildings -- picnic pavilions, dugouts, and the like -- are not sufficient. Neither are tents.

"Really, no place is safe outside," said Jay Jones, Coweta County's emergency management director. "Try to get indoors if at all possible," he said. "Nothing outside is really going to provide you with any kind of shelter, at all, during a thunderstorm."

"Lightning can strike miles away from where the storm is," said Drew George, training officer at Vital Care EMS. "If you can hear thunder, you can possibly be struck by the lightning."

If you do get caught outside, and have no way of getting inside a building or vehicle, following a few simple rules can greatly reduce your risk of being injured by lightning.

n Stay away from the tallest thing around. Staying away from metal towers and metal utility poles is a no-brainer. But any tall object can attract lightning -- and that's why trees are dangerous.

"It's almost acting like an antenna," said Jones. Not only does the tall tree provide an easy path for the lightning, falling limbs can injure you even if the lightning doesn't.

In McDonough on June 29, Eric Terrell West, 14, was leaning against the tree while his neighbor Ceyora Taylor, 14, was not touching it. He was killed, but she survived. They had been walking from his house to hers, just two doors down, and took shelter from rain under the tree.

Not all trees are necessarily bad, however. If you can't get to a building or a vehicle, in a forest for instance, get under short or shrubby trees. Make sure there are other trees that are significantly taller -- and well away from you.

And remember -- getting wet in the rain won't hurt you. Lightning will.

n Split up. When lightning is a serious threat and you're in a group outdoors, spread out. If lightning does strike, it will only strike one person, and the others can provide aid. If two or more people are close together, all can be injured, or even killed, by the same bolt.

That's what happened to Shaquille Hunter, 16, and Theresa Seaburn, 14, cousins who took shelter under a tree in their apartment complex. Hunter died that night. Seaburn was hospitalized and died July 21.

n Don't be the tallest thing around. If you're trapped in an open area during a lightning storm, get down. But don't lie down -- that makes you susceptible to ground currents. Instead, ideally, crouch down, with your feet together, and stand on some kind of pad. Keep your feet close together to reduce the chance of lightning going up one leg and down the other.

If you're outdoors, hiking for instance, stay away from exposed ridgelines and open areas. Don't linger in any place where you are the tallest thing in an open area.

n Stay away from fences and bodies of water. Everyone knows to get out of the pool when lightning threatens. Same goes for the lake, unless you're in a boat with a cabin. Four of this year's fatalities involved bodies of water.

You can be killed or injured when lightning strikes a metal fence even if you are several feet away.

Even inside a building or car, you have to take measures to be safe.

In a building, when lightning is striking, don't touch metal, take a shower, wash dishes, talk on a landline telephone, or use a computer with either a power or Internet cord. A Douglas County teen was recently injured as he was pressing the button to lower his garage door. Lightning struck the house and the current went through the button, and the teen.

Many people rush to unplug electronics during a lightning storm, but that can also be very dangerous -- if you happen to have your hand on the cord when the lightning strikes.

When taking refuge from lightning in a vehicle, try not to touch the metal sides of the vehicle, or electrical buttons, and certainly don't have anything plugged into the DC outlet.

And though many Georgians enjoy watching the majesty of a thunderstorm from their porch or out the window, "it's just not safe," Jones said. "Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off your porch."

And you should remain inside for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of lightning or rumble of thunder.

"Just use common sense, and stay indoors and ride it out," Jones said. "Most storms are going to be over in a short period of time."

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