June 19th-25th is "National Lightning Safety Awareness Week"

June 19th-25th is "National Lightning Safety Awareness Week". Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year and kills an average of 49 people in the United States each year and hundreds more are severely injured. Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be stuck at any time of the year.

Some lightning safety tips include:

• If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance, so seek shelter indoors.
• When thunder roars, go indoors and stay there until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
• Most lightning victims are not struck during the worst of the storm, but rather before or after the storm reaches its greatest intensity.
• Postpone any outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.
• NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area.

For more information, please visit the National Weather Service Lightning Safety website at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.