Tips for Staying Safe During A Storm

7/7/2021 (Permalink)

While the safest place to be during a storm is at home, if a sudden storm pops up when you are away, here are some tips for safety.

*Know your options for shelter. When you are made aware of a severe weather scenario and are safe at home, remaining there is the best thing you can do so you can wait out the storm. However, this is a luxury that will not always be present. If you are caught out in a storm, you can take shelter in your car as long as you can pull over safely and cut off your engine.

*Practice electrical safety. A lightning strike can hurt a structure in many ways, but the most common way is via a power surge. As the lightning travels through the home’s electrical system, the wires will become overwhelmed with charge and transfer that to anything plugged into an outlet. If you can, go through the area you are in and unplug everything before a storm. In general, it is best to also have surge protectors throughout your home and office.

*Avoid direct contact with concrete. Concrete structures are so sturdy in part because of how they are built. As concrete is poured around the metal, it creates a great structure—but also causes concern if there is lightning nearby. The metal in concrete can disperse electricity if the building is struck by lightning, so avoid touching these surfaces directly if possible.

*Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes. If you are out enjoying the day when a storm rolls in, make sure you are not rushing back out too soon and putting yourself in danger. Lightning Strikes can travel tremendous distances causing officials to urge people to stay inside for at least half an hour after the last clap of thunder.

If your home or business sustains storm damage call SERVPRO of Kingsport/Bristol at 423-245-5552.