Topic: recent strikes--people hit

[ncpilot]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/16939988/detail.html

We should put lightning rods and surge protectors on trees... yeah, I know, not really that funny...

A few weeks ago: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080708/ARTICLE/807080353

Now that's really messed up, it's not like they were under the tallest tree in the area (Boston story), but under a house...

[jwyman]

Never, Never, Never, under trees! And in the second story, one man stated shorter trees can offer some protection.... Uh    

[ncpilot]

If I recall, they were saying go for a shorter tree assuming there are taller trees in the immediate area...

[jwyman]

THAT's a huge assumption. Lightning is so unpredictable...

[ncpilot]

Yep...

I've become much more serious of late respecting lightning... when I hear thunder, I go indoors...

[racenet]

Never, Never, Never, under trees! And in the second story, one man stated shorter trees can offer some protection.... Uh    

Which results in a good cleaning of the gene pool. 

[ncpilot]

The Darwin effect...

[Hedgeley]

Hi Guys,

Yep, I'm another lightning survivor.  I was at a dog show in a valley surrounded by mountains/volcanoes when it started to rain.  I had my six-month old pup in for best pup in show - her first show against adult dogs.  Just as I stood up to lift her to the judging table there was the most amazing "whack" and burning sensation followed by that singed hair smell.  Once I picked myself and the pup up from a combined foetal-position fest, I couldn't believe that all the folk watching were still just standing there.  I couldn't get through to them that they should clear the park in a hurry.  The pup survived (just) and I kept having massive muscle seizures for weeks - usually at really inconvenient times...

My husband phoned to see how the show went and poo-pooed the lightning strike story until it appeared on the news.  I grabbed my other dogs, flung them and myself in the car and got out of there ASAP.  When I left there were still folk standing on the park as they continued the show.  Some folk have *no* brains!

In retrospect, I should have gone got myself checked out.  My pup had scortch marks around her neck from her light chain.  An on-looker was holding an umbrella when the lightning hit and had the handle "welded" to the skin of her palm.  Most of the on-lookers got some form of shock but didn't fall to the ground.  I should have gone home and bought a lotto ticket...

[kray1000]

So you got hit by lightning, had enough presence of mind to tell people to get the hell out, gathered your dogs, and drove away; and you can still remember details about the incident, and type and write in complete sentences.

I'm not sure I could manage all that after merely a close strike.  The first thing I probably would have done is looked for some clean underwear under a tree. 

[W Thomas]

Hi Guys,

Yep, I'm another lightning survivor.  I was at a dog show in a valley surrounded by mountains/volcanoes when it started to rain.  I had my six-month old pup in for best pup in show - her first show against adult dogs.  Just as I stood up to lift her to the judging table there was the most amazing "whack" and burning sensation followed by that singed hair smell.  Once I picked myself and the pup up from a combined foetal-position fest, I couldn't believe that all the folk watching were still just standing there.  I couldn't get through to them that they should clear the park in a hurry.  The pup survived (just) and I kept having massive muscle seizures for weeks - usually at really inconvenient times...

My husband phoned to see how the show went and poo-pooed the lightning strike story until it appeared on the news.  I grabbed my other dogs, flung them and myself in the car and got out of there ASAP.  When I left there were still folk standing on the park as they continued the show.  Some folk have *no* brains!

In retrospect, I should have gone got myself checked out.  My pup had scortch marks around her neck from her light chain.  An on-looker was holding an umbrella when the lightning hit and had the handle "welded" to the skin of her palm.  Most of the on-lookers got some form of shock but didn't fall to the ground.  I should have gone home and bought a lotto ticket...

When you said Some Folks Have"NO" brains that was an understatement!!
I have been zapped a time of two enough to gain my attention but nothing to the point of scorched hair!
Glad you survived and had the ability to talk about it!!

[Scalphunter]

 Alaska Airlines plane got nailed by a snow thunder strike  coming in for landing other day at Sitka.  This area seem to be  an attraction for ligthing and they have a  high percentage of there planes struck  coming in there. They once had 3 in one month hit and all winter strikes

[W Thomas]

Alaska Airlines plane got nailed by a snow thunder strike  coming in for landing other day at Sitka.  This area seem to be  an attraction for ligthing and they have a  high percentage of there planes struck  coming in there. They once had 3 in one month hit and all winter strikes

I have to believe the same thing when you said that area attracted lightning!
We had a radio site that was not all that great but it filled the nulls fairly well...but if there was as
much as a black cloud blew over that site it would produce a big lightning strike! It finally got to the point to where
it cost more to stay there than it was worth in performance   I don't know if the ground contained some sort of combination of elements
that caused that or what but I have been down town looking that direction during a storm and noted many cloud to ground strikes there.
The lightning was rough enough to take a 21 ' antenna and make it look like a broom about 4' tall!

[f86sabjf]

I had  a strike about 50 ft from me in a parking lot. Now i watch from inside

[W Thomas]

I had  a strike about 50 ft from me in a parking lot. Now i watch from inside

Can't say that I blame you a bit
Thats almost too close for comfort!

[offroadjosh]

i have had  a few close calls... one knocked me and my uncle over.. so i am MUCH more careful now!!!



Josh