When a storm approaches or is overhead...

[HurricaneGirl]

I just found this on the Internet, probably what happened to me when I was a little kid:

Most people struck by lightning survive, mainly because they do not take a direct hit. A near-hit is called a "side-flash." In addition to sometimes being fatal, a side-flash can cause injury, blindness, or deafness. The side-flash hazard depends on many factors, especially the following: distance to the ground strike point, soil water content (which influences electrical conductivity – wet soil conducts better than dry soil), and strength of the electric field. Side-flash deaths are most common outdoors, but also can happen indoors through telephones, electrical appliances, and water pipes connected to sinks, showers, or baths.

[Amanzi]

Thanks for the info HG!

My mom in law (in South Africa) lost ALL her small appliance from lightning. TV, VCR, Phone, Answering machine... ALL of it! Luckily she had insurance, and got to upgrade all her thingy's... so she was happy

[HurricaneGirl]

No problem Amanzi! I was wondering about that too, now I understand why.

I've heard that lightning can even come into your house through an open window!!

As for your Mother in Law I guess every storm cloud has a silver lining!