When the sky roars, get indoors!

The time you have to react to a storm may be only a few minutes or less. Not all storms will have watch or warning. Not all storms will be easily visible due to haze, rain, and surrounding hills or trees. Preparation before an event is key, make sure you have a safety plan for your family.

Before a severe thunderstorm, unplug radios and televisions – listen for weather updates on your battery-powered or wind-up radio.

If you are an Amateur Radio operator and are concerned about protecting your equipment, this is a good time to disconnect the antenna cables from your station and move them away from your radio equipment. Unplug all power cords from AC outlets. Switch to a backup power source and inside antenna, or use a hand-held or mobile radio. Never handle cables or lines which run to outside sources during a storm.

General storm tips:

• Seek out a well constructed building.
• Get as low as you can go, stay in the basement if possible.
• Avoid malls, arenas, and buildings with wide spans. You need as many walls between you and the outside as possible.
• Stay away from windows.
• A car is not the safest choice in a storm.

When outdoors, such as camping or on a picnic:

• Seek out a bricked or cinder-block public washroom building.
• Take shelter in a car or truck only if no other options are available.
• If there is no vehicle, look for a thick stand of trees but don't choose the tallest in the area.
• If there are no options available, choose a low lying area, lie flat and protect your head.

While driving:

• Do not drive through flood waters or underpasses. The road underneath could be eroded, or the water may be deeper than it looks. Your car could get stuck or swept away by fast water.
• Follow the routes specified by officials. Don't take shortcuts. They could lead you to a blocked or dangerous area.
• Avoid crossing bridges if the water is high and flowing quickly.
• If you are caught in fast-rising waters and your car stalls, leave it and save yourself and your passengers.

Lightning Safety

Lightning is the biggest summer severe weather hazard. In Canada, we have approximately 10 lightning fatalities each year. 100 to 150 people are injured with life-long chronic injuries.

If someone near you is struck, give aid as soon as possible. They are safe to touch. If they are not breathing, give them CPR.

If you can hear a thunderstorm, it is close enough to be potentially dangerous. Lightning looks for shortest path from cloud to ground. Seek a solid base shelter immediately and remain in the shelter for a full 30 minutes after the last rumble. A bolt of lightning can shoot 16 km out of the back of a storm. So even if skies are blue, wait for 30 minutes. If more rumbling is heard, reset the wait-time back to 30 minutes again.

Shelter tips:

• Seek out a solidly constructed building.
• Stay away from windows, doors, and items that conduct electricity such as: telephones, appliances, sinks, bathtubs, radiators and metal pipes.
• Only use a car or truck if no solid shelter is nearby. The car or truck must have a metal roof, no convertibles.
• A sunroof on the car is not good, it reduces the lightning flow over the metal of the roof.
• If caught outdoors and there is no shelter nearby find a low lying area such as a ditch, culvert or cave and crouch down on the balls of your feet.

Areas to avoid:

• High ground.
• Bodies of water.
• Metal fences.
• Solitary tall trees.
• Other tall structures (eg. street lights).
• Do not go out to rescue the laundry on the clothesline because it may conduct electricity.

For more information on storms and being prepared, visit www.getprepared.gc.ca.