Ask the caller how many seconds there are between the lightning flash and the associated sound of thunder. If the count is 30 seconds or less, the caller is at risk for further strikes. If the count is less than 10 seconds, the caller is in grave and imminent danger.

Your house is the safest place to be in a lightning storm. If you are inside, stay there. Avoid windows and electrical appliances.

If you are not inside, and lightning is still striking nearby, you must get to a safe place immediately. Get inside a house or building, or into a metal-roofed car, and roll up the windows.

Unless you are on a portable or cell phone, hang up until the lightning has passed. Lightning can travel along phone lines and injure or kill you.

Call back if you see lightning hit something such as a person or a structure.