MAGICinMYHEART
<font color=FF0066<b>WL Vet</b><br><font color=gre
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2003
- Messages
- 7,754
Originally posted by MICKEY'S DREAMERS
About your " CAUTION " note : what do you mean ? I know it is not safe to walk in open spaces ...
BUT ... when you are driving ?
Maybe the first "stop " area is far away ...
DH and I will drive from Miami to Orlando on July 31...
I'm quite scared now ...
And when we are at WDW parks ? What do you suggest ?
Hi, Laura ( & Marco )
While your in your car you will be fine. If driving be sure to turn on your headlights and slow down. Just don't get out of your car if it is lightning unless you are under a covered area...if you are at a rest stop just wait before you get out, most storms will move through fast. (10-15 minutes) Please don't be scared just be informed, knowledge is your best defense. Disney is great about giving guest reports and will close all outdoor attractions if a storm is moving into the area. Once we where next to board the old Skyway to Tomorrowland and the CM stoped us from getting on...said that there was a storm cell moving into the area...at first where mad...because the people just ahead of us got on...then I said lets head back to the Resort...we boarded the monorail just as the storm hit...(staying at the Poly) so just pay attention to the CM's.
Following is a little information that will help:
Water, metal and high objects attract lightning. When an electrical storm starts, try to enter a building or your automobile as quickly as possible. Get in your car, not near it. You are safe in your car. Standing near a car increases your risk of being struck by lightening because you are standing near metal.
Avoid being the tallest object, so do not stand in the middle of a field or under a single tree that is the tallest object in your area. Standing under a tree that is shorter than other trees nearby is far safer. Standing makes you the tallest object, so, If you cannot get to shelter, go to a low spot and crouch down.
Don't stay near water. Just being near a lake, ocean or swimming pool increases your chances of being struck by lightning. Water sports such as swimming, fishing and boating increase your risk. Take the lifeguard's warnings seriously, get out of the water and go to the nearest shelter.
How to stay safe when lightning is around: use the 30-30 Rule!
The best defense is to plan ahead and avoid exposure to lightning when a thunderstorm occurs. Know where safe shelter is located and leave enough time to reach safe shelter before your danger level is high. Don't be an isolated tall object, and don't be connected to anything that may be an isolated tall object.
NSSL's scientists and collaborators did a study to find out how close is too close. They found that 80% of the next lightning strikes in a storm are within 2 to 3 miles of each other in Florida, but as far as 6 miles from each other in Oklahoma. Use the 'flash-to-bang' method to find the distance to lightning. Safe shelter must be reached by the time a flash is within 30 seconds flash-to-bang. In most cases, then, when you can hear thunder you are no longer safe.
But there is often blue sky in some direction while lightning is occurring nearby, and it may not be raining, so pay much more attention to the lightning than the rain. A particularly difficult situation is the first flash from a storm--watch for a storm that is growing quickly, such as when a storm is becoming very dark at its base or is growing very tall. An equally dangerous situation is when a storm appears to be finished, and only light rain and/or occasional thunder are heard, but the cloud overhead continues to be fairly dark. The most common situation for a lightning death or injury in Florida was found NOT to be in the heaviest rain area with lots of flashes, but after or before the time when rain and lightning was the most intense. So, the weak storm without too many flashes, at the edge of a larger storm, or early or late in the life of a storm is most dangerous.
The best shelter is a substantial building that has plumbing and wiring--in other words, one that is used or lived in by people for a major portion of the day. A very unsafe building for lightning has only a roof and some supports, but no wiring or pipes extending into the ground. A vehicle with a metal roof provides good shelter, and is much better than being in the open or in an ungrounded building, but is not as good as being in a building that is grounded by wires and pipes.
Beckie
About your " CAUTION " note : what do you mean ? I know it is not safe to walk in open spaces ...BUT ... when you are driving ?
Maybe the first "stop " area is far away ...
DH and I will drive from Miami to Orlando on July 31...
I'm quite scared now ...
And when we are at WDW parks ? What do you suggest ?
Hi, Laura ( & Marco )
While your in your car you will be fine. If driving be sure to turn on your headlights and slow down. Just don't get out of your car if it is lightning unless you are under a covered area...if you are at a rest stop just wait before you get out, most storms will move through fast. (10-15 minutes) Please don't be scared just be informed, knowledge is your best defense. Disney is great about giving guest reports and will close all outdoor attractions if a storm is moving into the area. Once we where next to board the old Skyway to Tomorrowland and the CM stoped us from getting on...said that there was a storm cell moving into the area...at first where mad...because the people just ahead of us got on...then I said lets head back to the Resort...we boarded the monorail just as the storm hit...(staying at the Poly) so just pay attention to the CM's.
Following is a little information that will help:
Water, metal and high objects attract lightning. When an electrical storm starts, try to enter a building or your automobile as quickly as possible. Get in your car, not near it. You are safe in your car. Standing near a car increases your risk of being struck by lightening because you are standing near metal.
Avoid being the tallest object, so do not stand in the middle of a field or under a single tree that is the tallest object in your area. Standing under a tree that is shorter than other trees nearby is far safer. Standing makes you the tallest object, so, If you cannot get to shelter, go to a low spot and crouch down.
Don't stay near water. Just being near a lake, ocean or swimming pool increases your chances of being struck by lightning. Water sports such as swimming, fishing and boating increase your risk. Take the lifeguard's warnings seriously, get out of the water and go to the nearest shelter.
How to stay safe when lightning is around: use the 30-30 Rule!
The best defense is to plan ahead and avoid exposure to lightning when a thunderstorm occurs. Know where safe shelter is located and leave enough time to reach safe shelter before your danger level is high. Don't be an isolated tall object, and don't be connected to anything that may be an isolated tall object.
NSSL's scientists and collaborators did a study to find out how close is too close. They found that 80% of the next lightning strikes in a storm are within 2 to 3 miles of each other in Florida, but as far as 6 miles from each other in Oklahoma. Use the 'flash-to-bang' method to find the distance to lightning. Safe shelter must be reached by the time a flash is within 30 seconds flash-to-bang. In most cases, then, when you can hear thunder you are no longer safe.
But there is often blue sky in some direction while lightning is occurring nearby, and it may not be raining, so pay much more attention to the lightning than the rain. A particularly difficult situation is the first flash from a storm--watch for a storm that is growing quickly, such as when a storm is becoming very dark at its base or is growing very tall. An equally dangerous situation is when a storm appears to be finished, and only light rain and/or occasional thunder are heard, but the cloud overhead continues to be fairly dark. The most common situation for a lightning death or injury in Florida was found NOT to be in the heaviest rain area with lots of flashes, but after or before the time when rain and lightning was the most intense. So, the weak storm without too many flashes, at the edge of a larger storm, or early or late in the life of a storm is most dangerous.
The best shelter is a substantial building that has plumbing and wiring--in other words, one that is used or lived in by people for a major portion of the day. A very unsafe building for lightning has only a roof and some supports, but no wiring or pipes extending into the ground. A vehicle with a metal roof provides good shelter, and is much better than being in the open or in an ungrounded building, but is not as good as being in a building that is grounded by wires and pipes.
Beckie
Laura & Marco
IVY 
