We astraphobia sufferers, past and present, disagree with the dictionary’s definition of a phobia as an intense irrational fear. An astraphobia sufferer’s fear of lightning is very rational and, unlike irrational fears, can be mollified by studying the way lightning works. The odds of survival are very much in our favor especially if we know the the nuts and bolts (especially the bolts) of a lightning storm.
We should consider the first thunder boom as the starting gun of the storm. The boom comes right after the lightning bolt. If you count the seconds between bolt and boom and divide by 5 you’ll know the number of miles between you and the approaching storm. If the answer is one or less, get into a hardtop car (not a ragtop convertible), or a house, right away. Both are very safe.
But don’t stand under a tree. They are often the targets of lightning bolts and a strike will increase the internal temperature of a tree 50,000 degrees F. The tree will explode and you might end up on the collateral damage report having been clobbered by a falling limb. Also, bolts hitting trees have been known to continue traveling underground to strike nearby animals and people. So, skedaddle!
I’ve never been a fan of lightning. Who would be, except maybe Dr. Frankenstein and Ben Franklin? As a five year old I was trapped with my family in our stalled car during a tremendous electric storm. A nearby tree turned into a tower of flame and crashed down. The following thunder sounded like we were inside a bass drum. I loudly recommended that we evacuate, but cooler heads prevailed and we stayed in the safe car with no other trees nearby.
I was a serious sky watcher for a year or so but calmed down when I learned our very favorable odds. For instance, in the U.S.A. in 2023, lightning strikes killed 13 people and injured about 50 others out of a population of over 340 million.
We can make our houses even safer during lightning storms by avoiding dish washing and baths (no problem) because pipes and water are electrical conductors. So are wires, so avoid landline calls and electric appliances till the boom-booms end. It was quite a relief to learn there was most likely no bolt out there with my name on it, just like there’s no big lottery ticket’s winning number that matches my social security number.
Of course we can forget all of the above if we go by my Mom’s explanation of a thunder storm when I was a wee kid. “It’s just the noise the angels make while they’re bowling in heaven.”
Imagine That 