Do you approach outdoor activities with caution? In a prior column, I encouraged "green" education and then told you to "hitch hike"' greening efforts onto the Greater Richmond Area's (GRA) natural weather cycles. But, as I recently listened to local weather channels, I was reminded that we need to not only be aware of the pro but cautiously aware of the con of these cycles.
At one time, there was a margarine advertisement in which Mother Nature announced her displeasure for being fooled into thinking a product was real butter. In anger, she said, "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature." Waving her arms black clouds swirled, thunder bellowed and lightning slithered through the sky.
I was reminded of this advertisement when I observed lightning strike a tree. As I watched, a more than 100-year-old oak literally glowed as if lighted and for a number of seconds, shook from its leaf tips to roots. Bark, peeled in strips, hung rope-like through out the tree and pieces were scattered for 50 or more feet. This experience revealed to me the reasons why we need to cautiously seek out shelter from electrical storms.
On another occasion, I experienced a similar yet less dramatic event. Because I heard distant thunder, I ran outside to retrieve clothes from the clothesline, put away toys, and picked up and put away scattered gardening tools. Everything went as expected until I touched a metal trap door. Then, after a few seconds, stunned, I realized I was sitting on the ground a few feet from this door. The combination of holding metal tools in my hand and touching the metal door created a circuit for the electricity-charged air.
Faced with either situation, what would you do? If you hear thunder, don't do as I did and run outside to deal with trivial items. There is no garden tool, ornament or any other item worth your life. Instead, find shelter in a car or building. Avoid telephone lines, metal pipes or in my case, metal tools. If aware of a pending storm, unplug appliances. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliance. And, because water is also a conductor, don't take a bath or shower, or run water for any other purpose.
If you get caught outside and are, for example, in the woods, take shelter in brush-like trees or shrubs. If you are boating or swimming, immediately get to land and find shelter. Limit exposure by seeking out a low-lying, open place away from trees, poles or metal objects. At the same time, make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding. Your goal is to make your self as small a target as possible. Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Do not lie flat on the ground because lying flat can make you a larger target.