Thunderstorm and Lightning Safety Information in Beaufort and Hilton Head Island

Rules for Lightning Storms
1	The SAFEST spot is inside a large building.
2	The SECOND SAFEST spot is in a car or truck. ( NOT a convertible )
3	The WORST spot is in an open boat or in / near water.
4	The SECOND WORST spot is near tall structures or on a golf course.
5	Do NOT use the telephone or hair dryer.
6	Do NOT take a bath, shower or do dishes by hand.
7	Do NOT sit on a patio (covered or not) and watch the storm. Watch from inside at least 8 feet or more away from a window.
8	Do NOT sit next to a window, metal vent, TV set or antenna rotor control.
9	Do NOT run out to get something, you are in water. (rain)
10	Do NOT use electrical power tools.
11	Do NOT park under a large tree, large branches or near power poles.
12	Do NOT stop on a bridge or over a body of water.
13	Do NOT think it is safe because lightning has already struck something, it can and often does strike the same spot more than once.
14	Do NOT think rubber soles or boots will prevent you from being struck by lightning. One inch of rubber is NOT going to establish an insulating gap considering that bolt has already traveled many miles to reach you. Victims usually have well tied boots blown many yards away from their bodies.

What IF....
1	If caught outside, small shrubs will provide some relief from the rain. Squat low under a bush and this will afford some protection. If in a group of people, spread out, at least 20 feet from each other.
2	If caught in a boat, pull any metal object taller than the boat and lay it on the deck. This includes fishing rods (graphite is a conductor), antennas and yes, bimini tops. Squat as close to the deck as possible and away from deck water. If in a cabin, stay in the center away from electronics.
3	If caught swimming, get out of the water as soon as you hear any thunder. Lightning can travel a very long distance and strike without you seeing the storm at all. If you can hear it, it can reach you!
4	If on a golf course, get off the course as soon as you hear thunder. I have worked several fatalities in the Beaufort and Hilton Head Island areas involving lightning storms and golf. Golf shoes (spiked) and clubs are some of the best lightning rods around. Head for the club house. The course will still be there!
5	If working outside, and your boss says to continue, well is it worth it??? Have you ever heard "too stupid to get out of the rain"? If your job is worth dying for, then work. If not, and your boss has a problem with it, maybe you need to find a boss who cares a little more about and for their workers. They do exist. It's your life!
6	If in the open, squat on the balls of your feet. This puts the least amount of surface area contacting the ground. Pick an area that is lower, if possible, than the surrounding landscape, away from large trees.
7	If caught in a car, stay inside. Although scary, you will be safer inside than outside. Even if power lines fall on the car, stay inside! Help will come. Sit in the middle of the seat away from the doors. Soon it will be over and you can go on your way. If the car is struck, smoke and sparks are normal. Unless you see fire, do not get out. If power lines fall on the car, do not get out at all. Sparks are normal, as well as some smoke. If you have no alternative, as with heavy fire... jump from an open window as hard and far away from the vehicle as possible before landing on the ground. Your chances can be less than 20% of making it without being shocked by power lines. Only do this if the car is on fire and you have a 0% chance. This would be a very rare situation indeed. Like one in a billion. Remember... power lines jump and dance around, so you would also have to clear them as well as the car.
8	Remember, severe lightning storms bring large amounts of rain and heavy winds. Weak or heavy tree limbs fall. Power lines fall. Water levels rise and the possibility of flash flooding exists. If you can not see the road, pull over if driving. Visibility is severely reduced and motorists are in a panic mode. Roads are slipperiest when it first begins raining. Brakes often fail during thunder storms. If you have to drive, really watch out. Most accidents happen in this kind of storm. It's a lot better to pull over and wait it out. Pull well off the road. The best spot is in a parking lot.
9	If your home or building is struck, check for signs of fire. Vacate to a car or truck if there is heavy smoke or fire. Most lightning strikes produce a strong sulfur smell, this is normal. Most fires will start in the attic area.
10	Most survivors hit by lightning, say they have smelled sulfur and felt their hair standing on end just before the strike. If you feel or smell this, get low and stay on the heels of your feet. Prayers help too. If you are holding anything, throw it away from you. It may strike that instead of you. The rule is...throw it far and get down on the balls of your feet. You only have a "blink of an eye" time to do this. Less than a second or so. This I know, I was one.

Lightning Facts
1	More than 100 people a year are killed each year in the US from lightning strikes on average. Good news is on an average, 75% of all struck may live.
2	The temperature of a lightning bolt can be 50,000� F, the suns surface is about 11,000� F.
3	The travel distance of a lightning bolt can be well over 5 miles.
4	Lightning strikes purge the air of contaminates. Electrostatic air filters use the same principal.
5	More than 2,000 lightning storms are occurring worldwide while reading this one line.
6	Lightning bolts may have more than 200 million volts and 300,000 amperes.
7	Florida has more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the US. Beaufort and Hilton Head is not far behind.
8	Most lightning injuries occur from indirect hits, not direct hits. This means lightning striking something you are in contact with or close to.
9	Most people who are hit can be revived if CPR is given quickly. Victims DO NOT carry a charge and CAN be safely touched. (after the strike... of course)
10	Thunder is caused from the super heating of the air around the lightning bolt. The air moves at supersonic speeds resulting in a thunder clap.
11	Most lightning strikes occur between noon and 8 PM. Most storms occur in the summer months around June and July.
12	The front of the storm has the potential of the worst lightning strikes. Also, in the Beaufort area, often... the same storm will circle around and hit again.
13	Lightning DOES NOT always strike the highest (tallest) object!