Lightning storms can pose many risks to not only your property but also your life. Lightning strikes result in numerous injuries, property damage, and fatalities annually. With this in mind, it is important to learn ways of protecting yourself and your family from lightning storms.
In this article, you’ll learn why and what measures you need to take to keep your family safe during lightning storms. We’ll also discuss how professionals such as Denver electricians can play a vital role in safeguarding your home.
Understanding The Dangers Of Lightning Storms
Before we talk about the steps you can take to protect your family, it is important to know the potential dangers associated with a lightning storm;
- Lightning storms can strike people and buildings, resulting in fatalities and structure damage. This has led to many deaths and structural damages annually in America.
- It can result in an electrical surge, which often damages appliances and causes injuries in buildings.
- Lightning storms can lead to fire, as they ignite fires in buildings and vegetation. This often results in widespread damage.
- Lightning storms result in side flashes which just means a strike can jump from one object to a person which can result in a significant risk of a direct hit.
- The intense heat and sound waves generated by lightning can cause explosions, shattering windows and creating additional hazards.
Related article: Summer Storm Electrical Problems
Steps To Protect Your Family During Lightning Storms
Based on years of research, scientists have devised steps to protect oneself during a lightning storm. These steps have proven to be crucial. Let’s examine them.
Stay Informed
The best way to ensure that you are safe is to be informed and updated on the weather forecasts in your area. Make sure you are ready whenever severe weather is predicted. Shelter your family immediately when you hear thunder and lightning getting close. Today’s technology has multiple weather forecast apps that can notify you in advance of possible storms and their magnitude.
Seek Safe Shelter
You want to spot a substantial building and seek shelter. Or get into any vehicle with a hard top that can stop lightning penetration. Once you are indoors:
- Avoid Water
Keep off any water systems, since lightning can travel through the installed plumbing system.
- Stay Away from Electrical Equipment
Stay away from wired electronics including telephones, phones, and computers. These have higher probabilities of lightning passing through them.
- Stay away From Windows And Doors
Stand far away from windows and doors during a lightning strike to reduce the risk of being struck by side flashes.
- Unplug Appliances
Unplug appliances and avoid touching outlets to avoid potential risks of power surges.
Create a Lightning Safety Plan
It is quite crucial that you devise safety checks for your family that will ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do during a lightning storm. Create a safe room in your home and practice regular drills to ensure that everyone is in the loop on what to do.
Install Lightning Protection Systems in your home
Having reliable lightning protection measures goes a long way toward safeguarding your appliances and loved ones at home. These systems, when installed by professionals such as Arvada professional electricians, can significantly reduce the risk of damage.
A typical system includes:
- A Lightning Rod
Installed on the roof to intercept lightning and channel it safely to the ground
- Grounding Systems
Ensures that the electrical charges during a lightning storm are safely channeled to the ground.
- Surge Protectors
These are installed on your home electrical panels to prevent surges from destroying home appliances.
Seek Professional Help
Always engage the help of professionals when it comes to protecting your home from a lightning storm. These electricians will evaluate your home and come up with action plans. If you’re living in Denver Metropolitan, Denver electrical contractors can help assess the readiness of your systems in handling lightning storms. You’ll then have recommendations of possible approaches for total safety.
Avoid Outdoor Activities
Always avoid outdoor activities during a lightning storm. If you were caught by a lightning storm, unexpectedly while outdoors, you should:
- Find Shelter Immediately
Seek refuge in a car or a building. Avoid small structures and isolated trees.
- Crouch as low as you can
If you cannot find shelter, ensure that you crouch as low as you can to avoid a direct lightning strike.
Educate Your Family
For guaranteed safety even when you’re out of your home, it is best to always have your family prepared. This means teaching them the dangers of lightning and the proper safety procedures they must take in case of a lightning storm. Ensure children understand to avoid water, electronics, and open areas during a storm.
The Role Of Professional Electricians
Professional electricians in Denver play a pivotal role in protecting families from lightning strikes. Some of their roles include:
Assessing Home Safety
You can trust electricians near Denver to give your home proper assessments that guarantee safety. They help identify hazards in your home that make your home vulnerable to a lightning strike. They can recommend surge protectors and work on a plan to ensure your home is safe.
Installation Of Lightning Protection Systems
Arvada professional electricians can install comprehensive lightning protection systems, including lightning rods and grounding systems on your home.
Electrical System Upgrades
Professional electricians help upgrade your home electrical system to better protect you in case of an electrical surge.
They help In Post-Lightning Storm Inspections
After a lightning storm, electrical contractors inspect your home for any damage to help identify potential issues that need to be repaired before the next storm.
Conclusion
Being able to protect your family during a storm cannot be overstated. This involves a combination of being prepared, seeking professional help and taking the above steps.
For residents in the Denver area, engaging with Denver electricians or Arvada professional electricians can provide you with peace of mind. These professionals are equipped to improve your home’s lightning protection, ensuring that you and your loved ones remain safe. Don’t wait until it’s too late.