WEATHER PRECAUTIONARIES
The following precautions may be adhered to:
Warning signs:
- High winds, rainfall and darkening cloud cover
- Thunderstorms overhead/ nearby
- Louder or more frequent thunder
Facts:
- Lightening generally strikes the tallest object
- No place is completely safe but some places are safer than others
- Large enclosed structures are safer than smaller/ open structure
- Lightening may strike the same place repeatedly
- Most lightening deaths and injuries occur to people caught outdoors
- You can touch lightening victims (they carry no electrical charge). Attend to them immediately
Before lightening/ Thunderstorm strikes:
- Keep yourself informed of local weather alert/ predictions accessible in your locality
- Be aware of medical contact details for lightning emergency
- Make emergency plan for self/ family
- Keep the emergency kit ready
- Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorm is forecast
- Unplug electrical appliances
- Remove dead or rotting trees and branches around your house/ building
If indoors:
- Close your windows and doors
- Stay away from windows and doors, railings, porches/porticos
If outdoors:
- Move towards a safe shelter (strong building) immediately
- Stay away from tractors, farm equipments, motorcycles, bicycles etc
- If driving, try to safely exit road and park, away from isolated tree and areas prone to flash flooding
- Generally, enclosed metal vehicles (cars, buses etc) with the windows rolled up, are better shelter than being in the open.
- Stay AWAY from loose hanging power lines
- If in a forest: Get shelter in a low area under a thick undergrowth of small trees
- In other open areas: Try to go to a low place such as a ravine (but be alert for flash floods)
- If in water get to land and find safe shelter immediately
- FARMERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO BUILD TEMPORARY HUTS ON RIVER BANKS OR SPEND NIGHTS IN THE FIELD DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AS A CLOUDBURST/THUNDERSTORM MAY CAUSE LANDSLIDES AND FLASH FLOODS
If Lightning / Thunderstorm strikes:
- Call for medical assistance and ambulance immediately
- It is safe to touch lightening victims and provide medical treatment
- In cold, wet situations put a protective layer between the victim and the ground to lower the risk of hypothermia (very low body temperature)
