When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors

If thunder roars, go indoors.  Sounds easy enough, right?  It is.  It’s the best advice for storm safety but not the only one.  The Orange CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) in cooperation with FEMA, offers these tips and guidelines to protect you and your family during a thunderstorm.

Storm watch or storm warning, there is a difference.  A Storm Watch means a storm is possible in your area, while a Storm Warning means a storm is expected in your area.  In both cases you will need to be prepared to protect your home and loved ones.

If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning, so seek shelter immediately.  If you can’t and are caught outside, there are some things you can do to protect yourself.  If you are in the woods, take shelter under a small tree.  Tall trees or trees in an open area are natural lightning rods. 

If you’re in an open area, be a very small target by squatting low to the ground, place hands on your knees and your head between them, making sure you are the smallest target possible.  Do not lie flat on the ground because it makes you a bigger target.  Avoid natural targets such as sheds, small structures, boats in water, metal things like farm equipment, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.

Get inside a home, building or hard top car (not a convertible).  Even though you may be hurt if lightning strikes your car, you are still safer inside the car rather than outside.  Inside your home, stay away from windows and doors.  Do not lean on concrete walls or lie on concrete floors.  Avoid showering or bathing as the fixtures conduct electricity. 

Use a corded telephone ONLY for emergencies.  Cordless and cellular phones are safer to use.  Unplug appliances and other electrical items like a computers and air conditioners.  Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage. 

If power goes out, use battery powered flashlights and lanterns.  Do not use candles as they are easily forgotten and can be knocked over by children and pets.  Keep up with storm updates and alerts by listening to battery powered radios. 

All households should have a Disaster Supply Kit assembled and readily available.  This is a kit that contains food, clothing and items to sustain each person for at least three days.  For a full list of  kit items go to: www.fema.gov. 

If your home is struck by lightning move you and your family to a safe spot and call

9-1-1 using a cordless or cell phone immediately to summon the Fire Department, even if you don’t see or smell smoke or fire. 

If you are told to evacuate, do you know where your local shelter is?  In Orange it is the High Plains Community Center located at 525 Orange Center Road.  Orange CERT is continuing to prepare the shelter and is fully capable of operating it once it is officially opened during an evacuation. 

Further information on the shelter such as what to bring  will be available in the next CERT article.  For now, please familiarize yourself with the location and be aware that pets are welcome!

For more information on Storm safety please go to www.fema.gov .  For other information on CERT, call the Fire Marshal’s Office at (203) 891-4711 or visit: www.orangefiremarshal.com or www.cert-orange.com.