Every once in a while, we need to evoke a serious tone on our blog.
Between 2006 and 2021, there were a total of 444 deaths related to lightning strikes, with the state of Florida leading the way. Sadly, last summer, a South Carolina man was killed after he and his wife were both struck by lightning while with their two young children on a Sanibel beach.
Brief afternoon thunderstorms are common summer occurrences in Florida. They typically don’t last long at all, but they can strike suddenly and present explicit danger.
Follow the 30/30 rule: If the time between seeing a flash of lightning and hearing a rumble of thunder is less than 30 seconds, you are in a lightning strike zone and should seek shelter immediately.
NEVER stay in the water during a thunderstorm. Leave the pool or get off the beach right away. Take shelter indoors or in a hard-topped vehicle. Never use a tree as a shelter and avoid standing near tall metal objects.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen guests ignore these guidelines and we wanted to stress again how important it is to be aware of lightning danger.
Please remember: When thunder roars, go indoors!
