With thunderstorms common across Iowa this time of year, the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department is reminding residents to take lightning seriously and know how to stay safe.
If you’re outdoors when lightning is nearby, officials say to avoid open fields, hilltops, boats, and any bodies of water. Stay away from isolated trees, as well as tents and picnic pavilions, which do not provide adequate protection from lightning strikes. The safest place to be is inside a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle.
Once indoors, there are still precautions to take. Iowa HSEM advises avoiding showers or baths, staying off corded phones, and limiting the use of electronic equipment that is plugged into the wall. Residents should also stay away from concrete floors and walls, which can contain metal wiring, and avoid standing near windows until the storm has passed.
Officials remind Iowans that if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning. When thunder roars, head indoors and wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before returning outside.