Lightning season is beginning early this year!
Don’t take shelter under a tree during a storm. The safest place is in a building.
Dear Readers,
The weather forecast today calls for possible lightning storms around Washington DC, which is how three people lost their lives back in 2022.
This event took place in Lafayette Park, an area I know very well from having done sound for a presidential inauguration many years ago. I was stationed right in Lafayette Park for more than a week, setting up a huge sound system and controlling sound for the parade route.
Read the full NPR story below
A lightning strike near the White House kills 3 people and injures another person
AUGUST 6, 2022 6:41 AM ET
Three people were killed and another was in critical condition after lightning struck at the park next to the White House in Washington, D.C.
Emergency responders received a report about people found injured in Lafayette Park at 6:52 p.m. on Thursday evening. U.S. Park Police and members of the U.S. Secret Service who were in the area at the time also rushed to assist the four people hurt. No property or vehicles were damaged by the strike, said D.C. Fire and EMS official Vito Maggiolo.
It is believed that the four might have been struck while they were near a tree during the heavy downpour, Maggiolo told NPR.
“We are saddened by the tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
As more thunderstorms are expected in the U.S. capital Friday evening, Maggiolo advises people to stay indoors.
“If you see lightning or hear thunder, you should seek shelter inside of a building or a vehicle. Do not attempt to seek shelter under a tree,” he said.
Back to me
Never stand under a tree in a storm!
The takeaway is to NEVER take shelter under a tree during a lightning storm. Always go inside a building, if possible, and stay away from all windows. If you’re in a metal skinned RV, that’s probably a safe place. But any canvas top RV is a dangerous place to be, and that’s likely true for any stick constructed RV trailer with a fiberglass skin.
If that’s what you have, then the safest place to be is inside of your tow vehicle. The Faraday cage effect will cause any lightning to wrap around the outside of your car, and not penetrate the interior. So keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle.
Here’s what can happen…
To see what a lightning strike does to a tree, watch this 30 second video. You don’t want to be anywhere near a tree when lightning hits it.
OK, everyone. Remember that electricity is a useful and powerful force, so we all need to pay attention to safety precautions while using it.
Let’s play safe out there…. Mike
