Office of Homeland Security - Emergency Management

3/4/10: GET THE LATEST FORECAST FROM NOAA WEATHER RADIO - 3/4/10: CHEROKEE COUNTY INFORMATION LINE - 770-720-6363 -

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Cherokee County Hazards

Disaster Prevention

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Lightning

In recent years, people have been killed by lightning while:

Swimming
Gofing
Bike riding
Standing under a tree
Riding a lawnmower
Talking on the phone
Loading a truck
Playing soccer
Fishing in a boat
Mountain climbing
Working outdoors

Lightning results from the buildup and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas. The average flash could light a 100-watt bulb for more than 3 months. Most lightning occurs within the cloud or between the cloud and ground.

Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors. The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50,000°F- hotter than the surface of the sun! The rapid heating and cooling of air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in thunder.

When thunderstorms approach:

Remember : if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately!

Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
If lightning is occurring and a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up.
Get out of boats and away from water.
Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Use phones ONLY in an emergency.
Do not take a bath or shower.
Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors.