Staying Safe From Summer Storms

Jul 1, 2021, 2:11 PM

Are you “covered” for thunder and lightning?

It’s that time of year for our six-state coverage area: thunderstorm season. Scientists say we’re in the perfect spot for storms, since we live where warm air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cold air coming from Canada. Thunderstorms aren’t often as dangerous as tornadoes or hailstorms, but safety in storms is still important.

Insurance coverage

Though a thunderstorm isn’t one of the perils our Homeowners policy specifically protects against, lightning is considered a peril (along with wind, hail, ice, fire, and other natural causes). If there’s damage to your home as a result of a thunderstorm, your Hastings Mutual coverage can help you take care of repairs.

But you may not need to turn to your insurance policy if you follow these basic safety tips to protect yourself, your home, your business, or your farm.

Seek cover

Everyone must be familiar with the severe weather warning signals and where the nearest shelter is located. It’s very important to know how to respond before an event to reduce time delays that can be critical.

Or, as the Centers for Disease Control put it, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Get inside a shelter as quickly as possible. You can even get inside a car, but don’t touch the roof or the sides — the idea is to stay away from anything that conducts electricity. That could be metal or even concrete, which may conceal metal wires or bars.

If you can’t get indoors, stay low, but not on the ground, since electricity can pass through dirt.

Have a backup in place

Many homes have generators to keep the electricity on when the power goes out. Make sure yours is working properly before you need it. If you’re in a big city or in an apartment, you might not have a generator. In that case, have some supplies prepared, like flashlights and an available source of water, and a way to keep things cold if the power outage lasts for a while.

Avoid electronics

This one may be tougher than you think! Sure, we can all put aside our TVs and video games if there’s a risk of electrical shock, but our reliance on the internet and electricity in general means you might not have another way of receiving emergency information. I haven’t experienced a lot of severe storms, but I remember having to listen to weather reports on the radio.

Fortunately, the CDC says cell phones are OK to use during a storm… though it’s probably best to limit your use to checking the weather and for emergency warnings.

Tell me in the comments about a time you had a close call with a thunderstorm.

The Mutual Understanding blog and Hastings Mutual videos are made available for educational purposes only. The information referred to is not an official company statement, corporate policy, or offer of coverage. Refer to your insurance policy for specific coverage. There is no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found by following any link on this site. Please contact your local independent insurance agent with further questions and for more details on any insurance policy-related information you read here.