Thunderstorms

In Canada, lightning kills on average 9 to 10 people and seriously injures 92 to 164 people each year.

When a thunderstorm hits, get inside or stay inside, and remain there for at least half an hour after the last rumble of thunder.

Severe thunderstorms can cause landslides, flooding, uprooted trees, and downed utility lines. Thunderstorms are accompanied by lightning and may produce damaging weather such as tornadoes, hail, high winds, and heavy rain.

In Canada, lightning kills on average 9 to 10 people and seriously injures 92 to 164 people each year. When you are building your family emergency plan, review and discuss the safety tips below with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do.

Helpful hint: To estimate how far away lightning is, count the seconds between the flash of lightning and the thunderclap. Each second is about 300 meters. If you count fewer than five seconds, take shelter immediately.

If you are indoors:

If you are outdoors:

If you hear thunder, then lightning is close enough to be dangerous.

There is no place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm. Make every effort to get into a solid shelter or metal-topped vehicle. If neither is available, find a low-lying area away from tall, pointy, isolated objects, crouch down and put your feet together. Do not lie down. Cover your ears to reduce the threat of hearing damage from thunder.

To learn more about thunderstorms or creating an emergency plan, give us a call at 705.522.9200 or toll-free at 1.866.522.9200.


This item was last modified on June 12, 2015