Here are our top tips and tricks for preventing lightning losses:
1. Install a lightning protection system. A lightning protection system supplies structural protection by providing a specified path on which lightning can travel. When a building is equipped with a lightning protection system, the destructive power of the lightning strike is directed safely into the ground, leaving the structure and its contents undamaged.
The system includes a lightning rod or air terminals at the top of the house that can be disguised as a weather vane and wires to carry the current down to grounding rods at the bottom.
2. Use surge protectors. Today’s sensitive electronic equipment is particularly vulnerable to lightning. To ensure the highest level of protection, UL-listed surge arrestors should be installed on electrical service panels. Installations typically include surge arrestors for the main electric panel, as well as incoming phone, cable, satellite, and data lines.
Surge arrestors protect against damaging electrical surges that can enter a structure via power transmission lines. By filtering and dissipating the harmful surges, arrestors prevent electrical fires and protect against electrical discharges that can damage a building’s electrical system, computers, appliances, and other systems.
3. Unplug expensive electronic equipment. As an added precaution, unplug costly electronic equipment such as TVs, computers, and the like if you know a storm is approaching.
Do’s and Don’ts for Lightning Safety
1. Stay indoors. Take shelter in a home, large building, or fully enclosed building. Hard-topped vehicles are generally safe shelters, as well.
2. Avoid areas where you will be the highest object. If you are caught in an open field with no nearby shelter, and your hair begins to stand on end (an indication that lightning is about to strike), drop down and crouch with hands on knees, rocking up on the balls of your feet. (The idea is to make as little contact with the ground as possible.) Never lie down flat or place your hands on the ground.
3. Certain locations are extremely hazardous during thunderstorms. Avoid lakes, beaches, open water, fishing from a boat or dock, and riding on golf carts, farm equipment, motorcycles, or bicycles. Take shelter in tunnels, subways, ditches, or caves if necessary—but never under a tree!
4. If caught on high ground or in an open area, seek shelter in a low area and avoid trees. A small grove of bushes or shrubs is preferable to lone trees.
5. To avoid side flashes (voltage from a nearby struck object), stay clear of fences or isolated trees. Avoid telephone poles, power lines, pipelines, or other electrically conductive objects.
6. Stay off the telephone! In your home, don’t stand near open windows, doorways, or metal piping. Avoid the TV, plumbing, sinks, tubs, radiators and stoves. Avoid contact with small electric appliances such as radios, toasters and hairdryers.
