Five Things to Know About Lightning

After last night's tornado warning had many Nazareth area residents heading for the lower levels of their homes -- or of a high school, in my case -- and more thunderstorms forecast for the Lehigh Valley through Memorial Day weekend, here are a few overdue safety tips that will help keep your family safe:

1. Lightning can strike miles away from an area where it is actually raining. You are within striking distance if you can hear thunder. Seek shelter immediately.
2. While inside, stay away from corded phones, computers and anything that can put you in direct contact with electricity.
3. Stay away from pools (indoor or outdoor), tubs, showers and other plumbing.
4. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before heading back outside.
5. There are about 25 million lighting flashes in the United States each year, and more than 50 people each year are killed by lightning.

Source: The National Weather Service