Coastal afternoons can turn stormy fast. When thunder rolls in, a few simple rules keep you safe from lightning.
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck. Stop what you are doing and get inside a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle right away. There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm.
Water and open sand are especially dangerous. Get out of the ocean and pools, off the beach, and away from tall isolated objects like lifeguard stands, light poles, and umbrellas.
Stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before heading back out. Storms can circle back, and lightning can strike well ahead of or behind the rain.
Avoid open fields, hilltops, and the tallest trees. Stay away from water, metal fences, and anything that conducts electricity. Do not lie flat on the ground.
Stay off corded phones and avoid plumbing, sinks, and showers during the storm. Unplug sensitive electronics before the storm arrives if you can.
Call 911 immediately. Lightning victims carry no electrical charge and are safe to touch. Begin CPR if they are not breathing, and stay with them until help arrives.
