In general, basements are a safe place to go during thunderstorms. However, there are some things to keep in mind. Avoid contact with concrete walls which may contain metal reinforcing bars.
Remember the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If there is no basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench.
Myth: If you are in a house, you are 100% safe from lightning. Fact: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity. This means staying off corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors and windows.
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the place on Earth that receives the most lightning strikes. Massive thunderstorms occur on 140-160 nights per year with an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute lasting up to 10 hours at a time.
Storm lightning is so fast that even if it were to hit a window, the window would shatter from the heat and speed. Also glass is not a conductor so being struck by lightning through the window would take the glass being shattered first and then you could be struck by lightning but this would require two strikes.
Don't use corded phones: Using a corded phone during a thunderstorm is one of the leading causes of indoor lightning injuries. However, it IS safe to use cordless or cell phones as long as they are not being charged. Stay away from windows and doors: Sitting on an open porch to watch a thunderstorm is also dangerous.
"The safest place in a home is the interior part of a basement," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. If you can clear out a spot under the stairs in your basement, that is likely one of the safest places in your home.
Hazards. Though the eye is by far the calmest and quietest part of the storm (at least on land), with no wind at the center and typically clear skies, it is possibly the most hazardous area on the ocean. In the eyewall, wind-driven waves all travel in the same direction.
Meeting FEMA Standards
This means that safe rooms are thoroughly evaluated to withstand wind speeds and debris impact associated with tornadoes, including those of F5 intensity.
In the United States, about 60 people are killed each year by lightning. To stay safe, follow the golden rule-head for cover. "There is no place outside that is safe from lightning," Holle said firmly. "There are two safe places-inside a [permanent] building or a metal-topped vehicle."
Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder. Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment. Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
The pool is to remain clear of swimmers at least 30 minutes after thunder and/or the last visible lightning. Remember! Just because you can't see a thunderstorm doesn't mean it cannot be dangerous. Lightning can travel up to 50 miles horizontally before making contact.
The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. Nearly 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring at any moment around the world. That's 16 million a year! Despite their small size, all thunderstorms are dangerous.
Stay away from anything that could conduct electricity such as radios, toasters, hairdryers and Unplug any electronic equipments before the thunderstorm arrives. This may also include fireplaces, radiators, stoves metal pipes, sinks, and phones. Stay away from window and doors and stay off verandas.
Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in danger of being struck by lightning. When thunder roars go indoors.
Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades or curtains. Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
If you feel a tingling sensation, your hair stands on end or you smell sulfur, lightning may be about to strike. Immediately crouch down and cover your ears. Don't lie down or place your hands on the ground because a lightning strike may momentarily electrify the ground beneath you.
Globally speaking, the most lightning strikes occur on average in the afternoon between 12 noon and 6 p.m. In the northern hemisphere, the highest number of lightning strikes is recorded between June and August, and in the southern hemisphere between December and February.
Most indoor lightning casualties and some outdoor casualties are due to conduction. Whether inside or outside, anyone in contact with anything connected to metal wires, plumbing, or metal surfaces that extend outside is at risk.
In 2023, the state with the most number of lightning strikes recorded across the United States was Texas, with nearly 42.4 million lightning events. Texas always has a higher lightning count than any other state, partly due to its size and location.