If You Can Hear Thunder...

[jjarman]

My son is a lifeguard and you would be surprised at the adults who get mad when they pull everyone out of the pool when they hear thunder. If they hear thunder everyone comes out of the pool for 15 minutes.

As for the taking a bath thing, I think back in days past when everyone had cast iron bathtubs and iron pipes it may have been more of a danger. If lightening struck a tree nearby and it traveled to the pipes it could get you in the bathtub. But now most tubs are some form of plastic as are pipes. I don't go and take a bath when a storm is raging but I have taken a bath when it is thundering.

My sister-n-law's brother was struck by lightening last summer through a fork he had in his hand. He was outside on the deck trying to get the steaks in off the grill before it started storming and it got him with the fork. He was okay and just a little stunned.

When I was in high school I went to the beach with some friends. A storm was blowing up one afternoon like it does in the Florida panhandle and we were out on the beach walking around. We noticed our hair standing straight up and thought it was the funniest thing. I have pictures of us that way. Then one of us realized that this happens right before lightening strikes. Boy I have never run for cover so fast in my life.

 

[tractortippin]

So I dont know a ton about FL weather but I do know this is serious. I sent my horse to FL several yrs ago (not really to do w/ WDW but it was like an hr away) and they called me and told me to add fire and lightning insurance to my policy!!!!!!!!!! I was like ahh no bring her in if theres a storm

Silly me! We live in MA and thats what we do. But they explained that in FL the storms come and go often and fast and they couldnt do that.

Luckily we made it through our 9 month stay w/out being struck But you might not realize how serious it is if your not familiar (as we weren't).

I do have to say last yr we were in AK and it was raining and thunder and they said we should take cover. We were over near the meet and greet huts and people in line figured ok and piled under the little hut and they said no go take cover somewhere else? Again, not knowing much...I'm not sure why? I'm guessing they wanted you in a real building w/ walls?

 

[SuperTink]

I appreciate your concern, feralpeg. Too many people underestimate the threat of lightening. A little kid was killed in Virginia recently while playing on a baseball field. Thunder had been noticed and the field had been cleared by the umpire, but the kid and his brother were lingering on the field. I'm sure he could have used the warning. A life may have been saved.

It's really no different than reminding someone to wear your seat belt. You're not telling anyone not to drive, just reminding them that a little precaution is in order.

Thanks for that!

 

[Dancind]

We had a fatality here, just yesterday:

http://www.koat.com/news/19960178/detail.html

My closest encounter was at WDW. We were trying to get from a DVC party in Pleasure Island to the Marketplace. We were near the trees next to the Lego store when lightning hit the clock tower, or maybe the top of McDonalds. Anyway, it was very close and terrifying. Our kids started running in all directions, which made it even more of a panic. I'm really glad the lightning rods worked, but we will be much more cautious about walking around WDW during storms!

 

[Feralpeg]

I think your heart is in the right place, but this is a very misleading thread. If you had accompanied it by some facts about how many people are hit by lightning at WDW or in the WDW area each year, it would mean something. But to simply put it out there as a "warning" to people -- without letting them know what the actual danger IS -- is misleading.

I mean ... are you advocating that, when vacationing at WDW, every single person should seek cover the second they hear thunder and stay under that cover for 20 minutes? I don't see how that could even happen, based on the outside vs. inside space capabilities of the parks. Are you saying that Main Street and the Epcot promenade should clear instantly and everyone go inside the shops and restaurants? It would be chaos. It's simply not possible, practical or necessary.

I live in Central Florida too, and read the piece over the weekend about the person struck and killed at the church picnic. But to tell everyone to not be outside when you hear thunder because this event happened is like telling people not to ride the monorail because of the recent accident. Or to not fly because a plane crashed on the way from Brazil to France. Or to not drive because there was a multi-car crash on the 408 over the weekend. It's not practical advice, however well-meant.

Perhaps you are right. Sorry I didn't take the time to gather a bunch of statistics.

Regardless of what some may think, I did not start this thread to spread fear. I also am not naive enough to think that everyone will or should stay under cover totally during a storm. I just reported what they keep reporting on the the local weather.

The reason I posted this is because lightening in Florida is a different beast than in many locations. I grew up in the Midwest. I lived through an F4 tornado and many, many thunderstorms. That being said, I was shocked when I moved to Florida. The lightening storms here are so much more intense than most of those I had experienced in the Midwest. I can only remember a few times over my 50 years I lived in the Midwest of hearing that people had been struck by lightening in the area. I hear reports of it hear several times each summer. Houses get hit by lightening almost every time there is a storm here. About a month ago, I watched a beautiful home in Windermere burn from a lightening strike. It is a total loss.

The point I was trying to make is that people should be aware. Just use reasonable precautions. I was not trying to be condescending, but I see many people not taking any precautions at all. Two weeks ago, I sat in a restaurant during a storm. I actually saw a lightening strike hit the ground. Yet, I saw people walking around like it was no big deal.

I guess I am a little more tuned into this since I saw a man, working on a house on my street, struck by lightening right after I moved to Florida. It was horrible. I'd just rather not have that happen to anyone because they don't realize how bad the lightning can be.

I appreciate the comments from those of you who understood where I was coming from.

 

[Robo]

Look on the bright side, at least you got a good soapbox lecture out of the whole deal.

I think the OP was just trying to make a point. Not make a bunch of Chicken Littles. Of course, I do like Chicken Little.....

 

[ladeedeb]

But about the OP's story: I saw that on the news a couple of days ago and I'm not 100% sure, but I believe they were playing soccer on a large, open field. At WDW there are many large structures that I'm fine with being outside during a light t-storm.[/QUOTE]

A young boy died at soccer practice not too far from here (Northern VA) a month or 2 ago. I don't know how far away the lightening was, but it was really scary. I am hoping now that the coaches will take better care to get the kids into cars when thunder is 1st heard or lightening is first seen.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Peg, thanks for the info. I gather all my kids/dogs inside when I hear thunder, even though that is the time they want to stay out and play in the rain.
It's too bad some people have to come along and jump on you for trying to inform some people who may not be used to Florida weather, there is always a storm brewing down there! Maybe just chalk up the rudeness to being a newbie and not used to the friendliness that is usually shown on these boards.

Dan, always the gentleman.

 

[lotzasunshine]

I lived in Missouri and Illinois for a while, and although not exactly in tornado alley, we saw our fair share of tornadoes, and bad storms. Now I live in Utah, where we don't have a whole lot of worry about that, but every once in a while we get a bad storm. Several weeks ago we had one of those. High winds, rain, hail, and continuous lightning and thunder for almost 45 minutes. I had a friend text me who had lived in Houston, and we both were reminded of those storms. I was grateful for our basement apartment But of course my neighbor across the street decided that pruning her roses was more important, she stayed out there under her tree the entire time. I kind of wanted to smack her upside the head! I guess some people will ignore danger no matter what.

 

[dawnball]

"To avoid death by a flash of lightning, the National Weather Service recommends following the "30/30" rule. When lightning is seen count the time until thunder is heard. If it is 30 seconds or less, seek shelter immediately and stay there for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder is heard. "

However, it looks like about 2000 people have been injured by lightening in Florida since 1959, or about 40 people/year. That's about 1.2% of the annual vehicle-accident death rate in Florida. So while it is a risk, I'm in much more danger driving to the Wal-mart for some discount cookies than I am trekking from Main Street to the Jungle Cruise.

 

[SuperTink]

So while it is a risk, I'm in much more danger driving to the Wal-mart for some discount cookies than I am trekking from Main Street to the Jungle Cruise.

And if someone said, "Drive carefully!" I doubt anyone would have a problem with that.

 

[Bill and Jen]

I would suggest never getting in a car again. Over 40k deaths per year in the US alone

In contrast only 444 people have died from lightning in the past 10 years.


I do not think the OP had any fear mongering intentions, and for people who have no experience with lightning storms, they should be made aware and informed, however, the OP's post screams DANGER and gives the impression of a much more serious problem then truly exists.

Use common sense, DON'T live in fear.

National Statistics Motor Vehicle Deaths
* * * 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Fatal Crashes 37,248 38,648 39,252 38,444 38,477
Total* 41,059 42,708 43,510 42,836 42,884
From http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx



Reported Lighting Deaths per State 1998-2008
State Number of deaths
Florida 74
Texas 28
Colorado 27
Georgia 23
North Carolina 19
Alabama 16
Louisiana 16
South Carolina 15
Ohio 15
Tennessee 13
Pennsylvania 13
Illinois 11
Michigan 11
Mississippi 11
Utah 11
New Jersey 10
Missouri 9
Virginia 9
Arizona 8
Arkansas 9
Kentucky 8
New York 8
California 7
Maryland 7
Indiana 6
Montana 6
Oklahoma 6
Wisconsin 6
Wyoming 6
Iowa 4
Kansas 4
Maine 3
Minnesota 3
Nebraska 3
Puerto Rico 3
Rhode Island 3
South Dakota 3
Massachusetts 3
Vermont 2
Idaho 1
Nevada 1
New Mexico 1
West Virginia 1
Connecticut 1
Alaska 0
D.C. 0
Delaware 0
Hawaii 0
New Hampshire 0
North Dakota 0
Oregon 0
Washington 0
Total 444
From http://www.infoplease.com/science/weather/lightning-deaths.html

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I would suggest never getting in a car again. Over 40k deaths per year in the US alone

In contrast only 444 people have died from lightning in the past 10 years.


I do not think the OP had any fear mongering intentions, and for people who have no experience with lightning storms, they should be made aware and informed, however, the OP's post screams DANGER and gives the impression of a much more serious problem then truly exists.
Use common sense, DON'T live in fear.

National Statistics Motor Vehicle Deaths
* * * 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Fatal Crashes 37,248 38,648 39,252 38,444 38,477
Total* 41,059 42,708 43,510 42,836 42,884
From http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx



Reported Lighting Deaths per State 1998-2008
State Number of deaths

Florida 74

Texas 28
Colorado 27
Georgia 23
North Carolina 19
Alabama 16
Louisiana 16
South Carolina 15
Ohio 15
Tennessee 13
Pennsylvania 13
Illinois 11
Michigan 11
Mississippi 11
Utah 11
New Jersey 10
Missouri 9
Virginia 9
Arizona 8
Arkansas 9
Kentucky 8
New York 8
California 7
Maryland 7
Indiana 6
Montana 6
Oklahoma 6
Wisconsin 6
Wyoming 6
Iowa 4
Kansas 4
Maine 3
Minnesota 3
Nebraska 3
Puerto Rico 3
Rhode Island 3
South Dakota 3
Massachusetts 3
Vermont 2
Idaho 1
Nevada 1
New Mexico 1
West Virginia 1
Connecticut 1
Alaska 0
D.C. 0
Delaware 0
Hawaii 0
New Hampshire 0
North Dakota 0
Oregon 0
Washington 0
Total 444
From http://www.infoplease.com/science/weather/lightning-deaths.html

I notice you don't live here in FL, I do.. I don't think OP is screaming danger but showing many that they need to adhere to the warning. I have had things in my home damaged from lightning, lightning that traveled UNDERGROUND not even a direct hit. A friend of mine was opening her oven door and a bolt came thru and hit her. It tossed her accrossed her room and she ended up in the hospital.. not a direct hit either.. Yeah, it is very dangerous here in FL take it serious... it is not a joke here. While there may have been under 100 deaths, there were/are many more strikes that don't lead in death & thank God for that. Pray you are not one of them. When at Disney or any of the Orlando theme parks, I have seen many tourist not use common sense and stroll during a storm. Just because you hear thunder but do not see the lightning yet, don't assume it won't strike somewhere.. and remember it can travel underground before it makes its hit..

http://www.wunderground.com/health/lightning.asp
Lightning can strike as much as 10 miles away from the rain area in a thunderstorm. That is about the distance that you are able to hear the thunder from the storm. If you can hear the thunder from a storm, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.


http://www.floridadisaster.org/Hazards/Weather/lightning.htm
Summary: Lightning is dangerous. With common sense, you can greatly increase your safety and the safety of those you are with. At the first clap of thunder, go a large building or fully enclosed vehicle and wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder to back outside.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

K, seriously not trying to start anything, but honestly curious. Why not a shower? I am a Kansas girl and live in Tornado alley but I am not familiar with this. Can someone please let me know the reason for that? TIA

simple reason... Lightning travels in pipes underground, that is why not a shower. I posted some links in my previous post, click on them & they will explain more in detail. Seems some here really do not understand the real dangers of lightning. I am glad OP started this thread..

 

[RMulieri]

I still am having a hard time with how a simple, well meaning kind PSA post has generated such negativity from people .Being helpful and sharing knowledge and Info is what the spirit of the Disboards is about.There is no need to accuse Op of 'fear -mongering', feralpeg has been on these boards along time and is a wealth of info being a Florida resident. You may not like the info, or disagree with it.But have a little respect.

 

[DaParkers]

I still am having a hard time with how a simple, well meaning kind PSA post has generated such negativity from people .Being helpful and sharing knowledge and Info is what the spirit of the Disboards is about.There is no need to accuse Op of 'fear -mongering', feralpeg has been on these boards along time and is a wealth of info being a Florida resident. You may not like the info, or disagree with it.But have a little respect.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

"To avoid death by a flash of lightning, the National Weather Service recommends following the "30/30" rule. When lightning is seen count the time until thunder is heard. If it is 30 seconds or less, seek shelter immediately and stay there for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder is heard. "

However, it looks like about 2000 people have been injured by lightening in Florida since 1959, or about 40 people/year. That's about 1.2% of the annual vehicle-accident death rate in Florida. So while it is a risk, I'm in much more danger driving to the Wal-mart for some discount cookies than I am trekking from Main Street to the Jungle Cruise.

while the stats are true, compare it to the rest of the US.. Fl has the highest hits.. nothing wrong with being safe. Never under estimate the power of lightning ..never mind stats.... do you have first hand experience..living here in FL as I and others posting here about the dangers have.. Like I said, I have lost items in my home from non-direct hits..a friend of mine endued up in the hospital non-direct hit... I have also been hit while holding an umbrella.. lucky it wasn't a direct & I wasn't hurt.. needless to say, I only wear raincoats or ponchos.. no umbrellas anymore for me.. So unless you have been there done that.. please don't say 1.2%.. that is only deaths.. not

 

[WDSearcher]

I notice you don't live here in FL, I do.. I don't think OP is screaming danger but showing many that they need to adhere to the warning. I have had things in my home damaged from lightning, lightning that traveled UNDERGROUND not even a direct hit. A friend of mine was opening her oven door and a bolt came thru and hit her. It tossed her accrossed her room and she ended up in the hospital.. not a direct hit either.. Yeah, it is very dangerous here in FL take it serious... it is not a joke here. While there may have been under 100 deaths, there were/are many more strikes that don't lead in death & thank God for that. Pray you are not one of them. When at Disney or any of the Orlando theme parks, I have seen many tourist not use common sense and stroll during a storm. Just because you hear thunder but do not see the lightning yet, don't assume it won't strike somewhere.. and remember it can travel underground before it makes its hit..

And so what should WDW guests do? Yes ... they should get out of the pools and off the water rides when they hear thunder. But clearly, the "everyone go inside" option is not always practical. (Particularly since, in your example, people are also hit by lightning when they ARE inside. So ... if you're not safe inside and you're not safe outside, what do you do?) Sending out a warning without a suggestion as to how to stay safe doesn't do anything, KWIM?

The last major lightning incident at WDW was in 2003, when a giraffe at DAK was struck and killed by lightning. So, it's not as though WDW guests are in some form of dire danger. They need to be aware, yes. Afraid? No.

When someone says "I just don't think people realize how many folks get hit by lightning in Florida", it makes it seem like there are huge numbers of people, when in fact there are not. According to the National Weather Service, there were 63 reports of lightning incidents in Florida in 2008, including 21 inuries and 4 deaths. That's for the entire state. And while that does lead the nation, it still puts any given person's chances at relatively slim, even if they can find a pool at WDW where the lifeguards will let them go swimming in a thunderstorm.

There's a way to tell people something without making it seem more dangerous than it is.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

OP, I'm glad you posted this. I'm in the southeast as well and, like some have said, those who are not from areas where there are a lot of thunderstorms do not know how to take the proper precautions.

On average, lightning kills more people every year than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. It is something to take seriously.

Recently, we had a severe storm. DH and I were in the house we heard a loud pop outside. The house shook and the cell phone that DH has in his hand turned off. Lightning struck somewhere very close to our house. Had we been out in the yard, even though we're shorter than the trees and the house...the lightning could have run through the ground and hit us.

We lost all of our appliances once to lightning. Lightning is mean.

 

[Redbudlover]

Condescending? Good Grief! I clicked on this topic because I was so happy for it to have been brought up. I was in WDW last May the week it rained all week. I was stunned at the number of people walking around in the storm while it was thundering and lightening. I belong to a country club and they close down the course if there is lightening nearby. They make us play if it is just rain, but they take us OFF the course when there is lightening. If you watch golf on TV you see them do the same thing. WHY do you imagine they do that? DUH! I lived in New Orleans for five years and came to appreciate the dangers of lightening. And I am not a "nervous" person. I plan to ride the monorail when I return in August and I plan to fly down to Orlando. I drive in rush hour traffic and I eat non-organic veggies. But I do NOT walk around in an electrical storm - especially with a metal umbrella. If you think it is safe just google Ben Franklin and lightening....