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MEMA Home > Programs> Communication> News > Lightning Awareness Week: Indoor Safety

Lightning Awareness Week: Indoor Safety

Small wooden, vinyl, or metal sheds offer no protection from lightning and should be avoided during thunderstorms


June 23, 2011


The National Weather Service has declared the week of June 19th through 25th, Lightning Safety Awareness Week. This safety information is courtesy of the National Weather Service, Gray, Maine.

Safe Shelters and Indoor Safety



On the outside, lightning can travel along the outer shell of the building or may follow metal gutters and down spouts to the ground. Inside a structure, lightning can follow conductors such as the electrical wiring, plumbing, and telephone lines to the ground.


There are three main ways lightning enters homes and buildings:

  1. a direct strike,
  2. through wires or pipes that extend outside the structure, and
  3. through the ground.


In the past, the use of corded phones was the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States. However, with more and more cordless and cell phones in use, the number of phone injuries has been diminishing. At the same time, the number of children injured while playing video games that are plugged into a wall or television has been increasing.



Protect Your Property:


To the extent possible, unplug sensitive electronic equipment from all conductors well before a thunderstorm threatens. For your safety, do not unplug equipment from the wall when a thunderstorm is nearby. And, don't forget to disconnect televisions or radios from outdoor antennas! If you plan to be away from your home when thunderstorms are possible, be sure to unplug unneeded equipment before you leave.

Summary of Lightning Safety Tips for Inside the Home

  1. Avoid contact with corded phones
  2. Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so WELL BEFORE the storm arrives.
  4. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
  5. Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.

Lightning Fact for the Day: The average flash of lightning contains enough electricity to light a 100 watt light bulb for more than 3 months.

Lightning Question of the Day:

Is it safe to talk on a cell or cordless phone during a thunderstorm.


Compared to talking on a corded phone, the cordless phone is much less of a hazard. However, there is a momentary risk of being struck by lightning when the phone is being removed from the cradle. Once out of the cradle, it is safe to use a cordless phone during a thunderstorm, provided, of course, that you are in a safe place.

Learn More:






Last update: 07/20/10