By Alison McFerrin

The Selma Times-Journal

Although summer storms can be awe-inspiring, and the rain they bring a welcome necessity, these wonders of nature can also be dangerous.

“Any time there’s thunderstorm, there’s lightning,” EMA director Rhonda Abbott said. “It can strike as far away as 10 miles from a thunderstorm.”

According to www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov, “Each spark of lightning can reach over five miles in length, soar to temperatures of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit and contain 100 million electrical volts.”

Being struck by lightning can cause serious injury or even death. Even if you are only hit by lightning indirectly, such as through a conductor like water, you can still sustain serious injuries.

“Most of the ones that are not direct strikes, you can have everything from very, very minor … to actually being taken to the hospital and taking a very long recovery time,” CARE ambulance operation manager Alan Dailey said.

Dailey said lightning could cause internal as well as external burns.

Abbott said between 1995 and 2010, Alabama has had 145 injuries and 25 deaths attributed to lightning. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cites five deaths as having taken place thus far in 2011.

“Lightning is called the underrated killer because people just don’t realize,” Abbott said.

Having an alternate plan for all outdoor activities this summer is a good idea, Abbott said.

“They should take shelter in a sturdy enclosed building,” Abbott said. “Any open space that lightning can strike, people should avoid.”

The NOAA site warns people of the myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice. It also gives recommendations for good lightning safety.

Here are a few suggestions for preventing danger from lightning strikes:

• If you can hear the thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck.
• When a storm hits, get inside a sturdy building, and stay away from any plugged in appliances as well as plumbing and windows.
• If caught outdoors during a thunderstorm, get off elevated areas and NEVER stand under a tree; lie flat on the ground; or use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
• During thunderstorms, stay away from large bodies of water and get out of boats.

Stay in a safe shelter at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap.