How to survive a thunderstorm

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Story Published: May 7, 2009 at 1:56 PM PST

By Seth Wayne KVAL Weather and KVAL.com staff

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EUGENE, Ore. -- Learning how to stay safe during a thunder and lightning storm may not be high on your list of priorities, but after a rainy slew of stormy nights, it's time to plan ahead -- because lightning can strike in Eugene.

Just check out this raw footage of a storm captured in summer 2008 outside the KVAL TV studios.

Though it doesn't happen all the time, when lightning strikes, it's certainly a sight to behold. But how do you stay safe in the chaos of it all?

First, experts recommend staying indoors if possible.
If you find yourself outside and there are no safe locations nearby, remember to keep at least 15 feet of distance between you and any other person so the lightning won't travel between you if hit.
Avoid standing near tall objects like trees.
Power outages often ensue when lightning storms include bouts of thunder and high winds. Just a few years back, 50 mph winds blew through the city in violent gusts, destroying Eugene homes and knocking out the power to thousands of people.

With the recent Oregon weather giving Seattle natives a run for their money, flooding, thunder and lightning storms may continue to leave Eugene residents unprepared for such extremities.

To stay safe, extreme weather experts suggest creating a wind survival kit:

Flashlights
Plenty of batteries
Bottled water-- just in case tap water becomes contaminated.

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