Your cell phone is safe even if lightning strikes a cell phone tower.
The American Red Cross, the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others agree that cell phones do not present a hazard when used during an electrical storm. To the contrary, they recommend that you use a cell phone in lieu of a standard land line phone during thunderstorms because it is less hazardous. And if severe weather forces you to seek shelter, take a cell phone with you--ideally one that can send and receive text messages. It may be your best form of emergency communication.
Instructions
1. You can get weather warnings by radio, television and cell phone.
Plan ahead. Check with your local government to find out how storm warnings are issued locally. You can usually find information on the city or county website. Many weather websites and local news websites let you sign up to have weather-alert text messages sent to your phone.
Identify a safe shelter in your home--away from doors, windows and skylights--and be sure that every member of the family knows where it is and when to take shelter.
2. Learn first aid before you have to use it.
Prepare an emergency kit. Your kit should include fresh water in sealed containers--one gallon per person per day. Keep a supply of easy-to-prepare food, ideally something you can eat without cooking, in case power is out for an extended period. If you have canned goods, make sure you have a manual can opener. Include a battery-powered flashlight, with extra batteries, and a commercial first-aid kit. If severe weather is in the forecast, keep your cell phone well-charged. For extra safety, keep fully charged spare batteries on hand as well.
3. Heavy rains that accompany thunderstorms can quickly cause flooding in low-lying areas.
Learn weather terminology so you know what you're dealing with. A "severe thunderstom watch" is issued when the conditions are right for a storm to develop. Think of it as your early warning. A "severe thunderstorm warning" means the storm has formed and is in the area. Take cover. A thunderstorm is considered "severe" if it produces hail the size of a quarter or larger, or if winds exceed 58 mph. All thunderstorms produce lightning--they are all "electrical storms."
4. Electricity can follow the cables and cords on your land-line telephone.
Understand and avoid risks. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be hit by lightning. Get inside as quickly as possible. Close outside doors and keep away from windows. Do not take a shower, bathe or use the plumbing until the storm passes. Do not use electrical items with cords--television, radio, computers, land-line telephones. Use battery-powered items instead, including cell phones. If someone is struck by lightning or if lightning starts a fire, use your cell phone, not your land line, to call for assistance. Lightning will not follow the radio waves back to your phone.
5. The risks continue for about 30 minutes after the thunder and lightning have passed.
Be patient. Wait until 30 minutes have passed after you last hear thunder before resuming normal activity.
