When a storm approaches or is overhead...

[Josephine96]

I almost always try to obey the safety precautions and stay away from the computer or the phone.

Yet I know people who think I'm a weenie because I do this...

Do you follow the safety precautions? or do you normally let them slide..

[Brent]

I almost always try to obey the safety precautions and stay away from the computer or the phone.

Yet I know people who think I'm a weenie because I do this...

Do you follow the safety precautions? or do you normally let them slide..

No. As long as the internet connection stays up and the power stays on, I use the internet, mostly to look at radar. If not, I'm watching TV.

[Josephine96]

I will also admit that most of the time.. during a storm I'm at the computer for radar images.. but never too long..

[GalvestonDuck]

Good for you, Mr. "I am in the county...but nowhere near the warning area." You were on it then, weren't you?

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=30909

You had me a little concerned that day. Glad you made it through.

[Josephine96]

LOL Duck.. I was off the comp. at that time.. honest

[Guest]

Starts to lightening out really bad i shut down. That kinda gamble i dont care to take.

[Guest]

Only if it's especially nasty out do I get off the computer. But I did have a little incident when I was pregnant and chatting on the phone in a storm. Lightening struck near our house and zapped me through the phone. The baby and I were fine, but it scared the crap out of me! Needless to say, I never talk on the phone during a storm anymore.
...Jennifer...

[tomboudreau]

I don't go in the freezer anymore during storms. My brother and I were home during a storm, and we were getting something out of the freezer for dinner, like we were instructed to do, and lightning hit real close and I felt the surge go through my belly because I was leaning in the freezer to get dinner out. I know it knocked the phones out for about an hour and I was okay...just a little freaked out cause of it.

[Suzi Q]

I NEVER shut this poor thing off, regardless of lightning, wind, hail, you name it. Unless I am TRULY in danger (i.e. there is some projectile headed towards my sliding glass door behind me) I will either be glued to this screen or running outside during severe weather. Also will stay on the phone at the same time. Unless my power is out, it is highly unlikely I won't be online. And yes, I am completely nuts-like you didn't know that already.

[azskyman]

Had an acquaintance of ours electrocuted and killed by a lightning strike while she was on the phone. Not a friend or neighbor, but someone we knew. We always hang up the phone when lightning is nearby.

Other than that, I still go outside as the sirens wail and storm approaches. When things seem to be deteriorating too much, I move inside. No basement here in Arizona...but then again, little threat of tornadoes.

[Colin]

I'm always on the computer during the storm, mostly because I look at the radar and the computer is in the basement, so technically I AM following safety precautions, since I'm in the lower level...but mostly I let them slide because we hardly ever get any real bad storms. A few trees knocked down here and there, otherwise nothing bad.

[vbhoutex]

I'm ALMOST as CRAZY as SuziQ!!! I have turned the comp off a few times when the CG got really intense in our area. We've been shut down a few times by a nearby strike taking out the electricity but haven't had any direct hits.

[Josephine96]

Stay safe if you're on the comp when there is a storm, David

[Brent]

I will say this:

IF there are close strikes, I will get off until it calms down a bit, but I don't turn the computer off.

[Josephine96]

I normally get off but usually don't turn the comp. off

[Guest]

My bedroom is downstairs where my VERY OWN computer is. During severe weather events I am looking at the latest warmnings, statements and radar. I have a battery backup that would kick in if I should lose power.

[pawlee]

grab the camera and make a beeline for the porch!

[HurricaneGirl]

One of my first memories as a child, I can remember this like it was yesterday.. I remember hearing a loud clap of thunder. At the time I was standing next to the stove in the kitchen and saw a bolt of lightning come through the exhaust fan hole that goes outside our kitchen wall. Somehow it went down into the stove and came out of the front right burner like a big blue flash of light. It happened so fast.

Next thing I remember is my mom crying and picking me up off the floor and asking me if I was okay... I don't remember being in pain or being unconcsious. To this day my mom thinks I was struck and in shock.

[Amanzi]

GEEE HG! That kind of thing is enough to really scare the heck out of a mom!!

Im very good, I try hard not to be online if the lightning is close (our whole neighbourhood is deep in very tall old oak trees, and seems to be a lightning magnet) I will shut down the computer as I have had a modem fried before. I keep my kids away from the glass doors and I stay off the phone.

Just a question, someone told me you should not get in the tub or shower during a storm, is this true?

[HurricaneGirl]

Yes Amanzi, I have heard not to get in the shower during a thunderstorm, although sometimes if we get one early in the morning and I have to get ready for work, I still get in there.

When we get a really bad storm with close lightning strikes, we unplug our TV outlet, disconnect the cable into the TV and computer and unplug the computer too, just to be safe. We also do not talk on the phone.

One of our neighbors in our apartment complex lost a brand new 35" color TV last year during a thunderstorm. Luckily they had the replacement plan from Circuit City.