If You Can Hear Thunder...

[dawnball]

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

No, I was comparing lighting-human -strikes- (not just deaths) to automobile deaths. The statistics -are- 1.2%. I don't underestimate the power of lightning. I just don't overestimate the risk either.

And yes, I do have first-hand experience with lightning. I've lost items in my home, I've seen the magic smoke escape. And I've come to the frightening realization that holding a long radio antenna on top of a mountain in the middle of a lightning storm is not a good idea. I've also watched tornadoes from a medium distance, and used to date a tornado chaser.

I'm not trying to mislead with statistics, and I haven't called anyone a fear-monger, or irrational. If people want to be afraid they'll be struck by lightning out of doors, it's their choice. That's why I provided the national weather service recommendations of 30/30. I'll continue to both drive to walmart and walk in the rain, even if there's thunder in the distance.

 

[dawnball]

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

No, but if someone said "don't drive, there are drunks on the road at all hours, and you know - they'll kill you because they aren't capable of controlling their vehicles" - I think people would be reasonable to have opposing views.

 

[Orangeandwild]

My Grandfather was hit by lightening while delivering mail as a Postman. It did not kill him but he had some problems rest of his life because of it.

My house has been hit by lightening 2 times and one time it did $3,000 damage.

I too have seen people walking around the WDW parks as if nothing was going on with really bad lightening in the area. As the OP said many may not realize how dangerous it is, because you are onv vacation does not make you immune to nature. It is true there are lightening rods all over WDW but no guaranttee it will hit them when it strikes.

We get inside when we see one of those FL storms and not just under a tree or umbrella over a bench like some do

 

[SuperTink]

No, but if someone said "don't drive, there are drunks on the road at all hours, and you know - they'll kill you because they aren't capable of controlling their vehicles" - I think people would be reasonable to have opposing views.

Please. That's hardly what OP said.

 

[dawnball]

Please. That's hardly what OP said.

I don't think she saw it that way, but you're more likely to be killed on your way to Wal-Mart in the middle of the day - than to be struck by lightening at WDW when you can hear thunder in the distance.

Both are real risks. They're just small real risks. And every day people take small, real risks. We pick the risks that suit us, and limit risk as it suits us. Some people drive cars with 15 airbags, and some ride bicycles in traffic. Others don't drive at all during the hours there are more drunks on the road (Say between midnight and 3 am). Some people (like my MIL) don't drive on the highway, because it feels unsafe, even though per mile driven it's safer than the surface they prefer. And I know some who don't drive at all, because they know someone who was killed by a drunk driver during "safe" hours.

We all make our own choices, and I'm not belittling anyone for the choices they make concerning their own family or for issuing a warning - all I'm trying to do is to put the risks in statistical perspective so that people have a basis for making decisions. That's also why I included the 30/30 recommendation, since thunder can be heard for 10 miles, and a 30 second delay represents more like 6 miles.

 

[Jacklynn]

I also live in central Florida. It has nothing to do with living in fear... but being smart. That's all the OP was trying to say. I realize that not everyone who is outside while there is lightening will get stuck. But some, even if it is a small number do. I don't want to be one of those small numbers. So I reduce my risk of getting struck by lightening by trying to go indoors during storms.

Just like I try to reduce my risk of getting in a car accident by doing everything I can on my part to be safe. Sure it doesn't eliminate my risk of dying in an accident, but it reduces my chance if I am not changing lanes in an unsafe way on the turnpike going 70 with people on all sides of me.

It doesn't mean I live in fear, it means I try to be smart so I'm not one of those small numbers. I'm sure those who have been hurt/died don't think it isn't such a small deal.

Thanks for the reminder. I was in Tampa for the weekend and heard about that happening (it was Lakeland right?) Sorry for all the neg. comments. I don't see why people can't just move on if there is a topic they don't find helpful.

 

[SuperTink]

I think most people realize OP was not making a scientific statement about probability when she made her post. She simply reminded people who are already aware, or people who are completely unaware that there is danger of lightening strikes. It really wasn't necessary to quantify, because most people will take her advice (or not) and use reasonable precaution (or not). I doubt someone is going to cancel their trip because of lightening, but maybe people will take shelter. Nothing unreasonable about that, or about OP's post at all.

 

[wdwdawg]

no matter how you say it, no matter how you cut it, lightening is dangerous and if you are outside when it is close by, there is a chance you could get struck. If you know the danger and are not bothered by the possibilty of being struck, that is your choice. Please throw out all of the statistics about car accidents, lightening strikes, drunk drivers, seat belts or no seatbelts. There are risks we take everyday, but that is part of living. But we can take actions to lessen the chances of something bad happening. For me, taking cover when lightening is close by is what I am going to do and I appreciate the OP starting this thread.

wdwdawg

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Florida lightening is scary. I've seen strikes way to close for comfort on several different trips. I don't know why, it's never nearly as bad around here.

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

Central FL is THE lighting capital of the U.S. Visitors to this area might want to heed this warning.

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

Lightning always occurs first -- always -- because lightning causes thunder. The
electric spark that constitutes a lightning bolt heats the air through which it passes to
at least 50,000 degrees in thousandths of a second. Explosive expansion of the air
immediately occurs, followed by cooling and sudden contraction. These events trigger
waves in the air which we interpret as thunder. The initial thunder that you hear comes
from the point on the lightning channel closest to you; the last sound comes from the
most distant point.

It will be difficult, probably impossible, to pair each lightning discharge with the
thunder that it produces when an active thunderstorm is generating very frequent
lightning strokes.

 

[luvthemouse71]

A neighbor teen down my street had just turned the faucet on during an electrical storm.Lightning struck the ground and conducted thru the water.He got a BAD shock from the faucet and a burn...It is rare and it does happen

It just boggles my mind a little bit that people don't see the connection either..Here I am thinking that pretty much everyone knew better than to take a shower during a lightening storm, get out of the water etc.

Then again, you should see some of the patients I get-they could find a cure for every disease known to man, and I'd still have plenty of work due to the stupid things people do.

 

[lisajl]

Thanks for posting. You know lightning strikes happen everywhere.
Back in the day I had an uncle that was struck and killed by lightning.
he was working on a fence with his neighbor. Luckily, the neighbor survived.

 

[pampam]

Many years ago, at school, I was sitting by myself in an empty classroom and a bolt of lightning went through the window in front of me. I wasn't hurt. However, the alarm went off, and all the students had to evacuate the school and go out into the lightning storm. duh. Of course, I knew that the lightning had set off the alarm, but the teachers and such didn't have that info.

 

[goofy4tink]

Lightening strike is not that big of a threat. You can get struck sitting indoors as well. Stop fear mongering. A lot of people on here are already nervous enough. Don't stand outside near or holding metal. That's the advice.

This topic is just very condescending in general. Are we third graders?

I'm just saying that from reading these boards, there appears to be a lot of people here who are more scared and nervous in general than you'd find most places. They just don't need to be talked in to another fear. Most adults know what not to do in a thunderstorm.

But I guess you're just trying to be helpful and not a nag, so I'll look at it that way and move on.

I haven't read this whole thread...something I usually do before responding, but just don't have the time this morning.
You are aware that WDW is almost smack dab in the middle of the lightening capitol of the world, right??? They get more lightening there than just about any place else. It bears repeating to those who are not that familier with the area. You should be scared and nervous if you hear thunder in Orlando!!!
And yes, tourists do get complacent..figure that they are going to be fine as long as they aren't carrying an umbrella. I have walked around the parks in a thunder storm, and it's nerve wracking to say the least. But we tried to stay under cover, rather than out in the open.

From what I've seen in WDW, most adults do NOT know what to do in a thunderstorm. For instance.....overhead this one...'Oh honey, we'll be fine. That thunder is a long way off yet. Disney would close the park if we were in any danger.' Ah, no.
Man...someone posts a helpful thing and gets her head handed to her. Sure makes you think twice about being helpful doesn't it??

 

[rsimon]

I'm just saying that from reading these boards, there appears to be a lot of people here who are more scared and nervous in general than you'd find most places. They just don't need to be talked in to another fear. Most adults know what not to do in a thunderstorm.

But I guess you're just trying to be helpful and not a nag, so I'll look at it that way and move on.

Isn't fear what keeps people safe and alive? Why do we fear other things that are dangerous? We haven't all had to experience each of those things, but it is because someone has told us how dangerous they were and we listened.

We live in Texas and travel to Florida a lot. Lightning is a given during a rain storm here, however, people in areas that it is not that common would not know how dangerous it CAN be. I agree with the OP. I see people standing under trees all the time at WDW during storms. If you want to make yourself a target really fast, that's how you do it.

If you are going to be out in the storms, at least people should know what the dangers are and where they are most at risk, don't you think?

 

[WDSearcher]

I haven't read this whole thread...something I usually do before responding, but just don't have the time this morning.
You are aware that WDW is almost smack dab in the middle of the lightening capitol of the world, right??? They get more lightening there than just about any place else. It bears repeating to those who are not that familier with the area. You should be scared and nervous if you hear thunder in Orlando!!!
And yes, tourists do get complacent..figure that they are going to be fine as long as they aren't carrying an umbrella. I have walked around the parks in a thunder storm, and it's nerve wracking to say the least. But we tried to stay under cover, rather than out in the open.

From what I've seen in WDW, most adults do NOT know what to do in a thunderstorm. For instance.....overhead this one...'Oh honey, we'll be fine. That thunder is a long way off yet. Disney would close the park if we were in any danger.' Ah, no.
Man...someone posts a helpful thing and gets her head handed to her. Sure makes you think twice about being helpful doesn't it??

WDW is also smack dab in the middle of Hurricane World too, but people aren't coming onto the boards to remind people to be careful during hurricane season. If anything, Florida residents discount the chances of a major hurricane striking while any given person is here on vacation. No one is reminding people what kind of flooding can happen or what kind of damage the winds can do. No one says, "Don't go outside in a hurricane." If anything, they say things like, "Anyone going outside in a hurricane deserves what they get!"

As someone upthread said, we all take little risks every day. We choose those risks and we hope we choose wisely. And while WDW is smack in the middle of the lightning capital of the world, unless you're standing on a golf course, in the middle of the savannah at AK, in a barren parking lot, or on top of a building, the chances of you getting struck on WDW property are incredibly remarkably slim. We know this because very very few people have ever been struck on WDW property (and those that were, were generally in the areas noted). If WDW was a lightning trap, someone would have done a huge expose on it by now. There would be rafts of statistics and warnings. And Disney would have every guest visiting during the summer months sign a waiver saying that WDW is not responsible if they get hit by lightning.

You should NOT be "scared and nervous" if you hear thunder in Orlando. You should be alert and aware of your surroundings and have a plan in case the weather turns particularly nasty. Just as you should when you hear that there's a hurricane in the Atlantic and it might be turning your way.

 

[julie007]

Growing up in Florida, I was told never to take a shower when there was lightning too! I still don't do it and I don't really know why. I think there is a fear that lightning will hit a water pipe and then everyone in the shower will get shocked to death? I have never heard any cases of it so I really don't know.

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.

Lightening infact CAN travel thru pipes. I live in Florida and have had a friend who had a tree struck outside the garage. The dryer vent was near the area and the strike traveled thru the dryer vent thru the dryer and blew a chunk of concrete out of the floor when the door flew open. After this happening not once but twice they had the tree removed.

Florida is worse than most places so others who have no problems with it need to watch a news cast here when there is a storm. They will do a lightening track and it is nothing during the summer to have thousands of strikes in an afternoon storm.

 

[thomasclan85]

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.

OP thanks for posting this. I know lightening can be dangerous and you don't even have to be outside. When I was a teenager, my Grandmother was talking to a friend and lightening came in through the phone lines and burnt the lady's face really bad. We weren't even having a storm in our area but the other lady was. She still bears the scars from the burn. It may never happen again but I don't talk on the phone unless there's an emergency if I can hear thunder. I love storms but I use my common sense.

 

[jenelope]

Oddly enough, a DISer posted about a guest being struck by lightning at Fort Wilderness less than two weeks ago. Personally, I'm happy for the reminder. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2215153