In Texas, we experience over 200 million lightning strikes a year, so it’s important to put safety first when dealing with West Texas storms. Here are some facts and safety tips when it comes to lightning.

“It’s a very very powerful force of nature, and if I see it, I just go indoors,” says Jenn Daniel, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service here in Lubbock. 

The best place to be when thunder and lightning strikes is indoors.

“If you can hear the thunder, then you are close enough to be struck,” Daniel says. “Make sure you go inside to substantial shelter.”

Daniel says the best place for shelter is in a study place such as a house or even hard-topped vehicle. Lightning is actually hotter than the sun’s surface, which shows how powerful it can be to humans.

“It can cause very devastating injuries and that’s if they live through it. The ones that do may still have permanent long-term damage,” says Chad Curry, UMC EMS Training Chief.

As soon as thunder roars, go indoors, or as soon as you see a flash, make a dash, but there’s also a small chance of getting struck while being indoors.

“Mainly the things you want to stay away from indoors are plumbing and phone lines. Those are two things that are most susceptible to you being struck,” Curry says.

Lightning is nothing to joke about, it’s the one of the top weather-related killers.

“The national average over the last 10 years is now 31 deaths per year. Unfortunately, this year we’re at 32 deaths already and we’re only in August. This year, we’re running above the national average and this is the worst year since 2009, when we had 34 deaths,” Daniel says.

In order to keep yourself safe, Curry says to plan ahead and always stay aware of the weather.

“If the weather is coming, try to plan indoor activities instead of outdoor activities. If you are outdoors when that occurs, whether you’re at a football game or playing golf…whatever it may be, as soon as the storm starts to come and you hear that thunder, go inside immediately,” Curry says.

“Anything outdoors is going to be a hazard, so it’s just not worth it to gamble with your life and be outdoors in that. Just go indoors, and wait it out,” Daniel says. “Wait 30 minutes after the last flash or rumble of thunder before you go back outside.”

Daniel also says there are many myths that people spread about lightning that are not true.

“The tires in the car will protect you…that’s not true. Another myth is the tallest object outdoors is going to protect you and that you need to be the smallest or the shortest object…that’s actually not true either. Lightning is going to strike where it want to strike,” she says.

Daniel also says, if you don’t see rain or clouds overhead, lightning could still strike from a nearby storm. She adds, if a person is struck, another person that touches them will not get electrified. Instead, the person that was struck needs medical attention right away.