Thunderstorms

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• Identify a safe room in your home where everyone gathers during a storm — away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
• If there’s a tornado, gather in a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor.
• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage.
• Bring inside or tie-down garbage cans and lawn furniture.
• Use surge protectors — a safety electrical plug that will shut off the power if lightning strikes to prevent damage to your computer and other household items.

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If you're indoors: 

• Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors — strong winds and large hailstones can shatter them.
• Avoid running water in your house — lightning can enter through pipes and plumbing.
• Don't take showers or baths during a thunderstorm.
• Remain indoors during a thunderstorm and stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
• Be prepared to seek shelter in a basement or interior room on the lowest level if conditions worsen.
• Do not handle electrical equipment, telephones or plumbing. These are all electrical conductors. Using a computer or wired video game system, taking a bath or touching a metal window frame all put you at risk of being struck by lightning. Use battery-operated appliances only.

If you're outdoors:

• If you hear thunder, then lightning is close enough to be dangerous — take shelter in an enclosed building or metal-topped vehicle.
• Avoid water, high ground, isolated trees, power lines and picnic shelters — small, open structures don't protect you from lightning.
• If there’s no shelter, go to a low-lying area away from tall, isolated objects like trees, poles, wires, and fences — crouch down and put your feet together — do not lie down.
• If no sturdy building is close by, get into a metal-roofed vehicle and close all the windows.
• If you are in a car, do not touch any exposed metal connected to the car.
• If you are in water, get to shore as quickly as possible. Lightning that hits water travels well beyond its point of contact. Small boats with no cabin provide less protection than boats with enclosed cabins.

• Inspect any damage that may have occurred to your property.