Lightning safety tips

by Flagship Staff | Jun 5, 2020 | Blog

A severe thunderstorm has many damaging and life-threatening perils, such as wind, hail, and lightning. Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times a year. In fact, the Empire State Building gets struck on average 23 times per year. While most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year.

In the United States, lightning kills 47 people per year and injures hundreds more. While I’ve never been struck by lightning, I’ve had a couple of close calls. My first encounter was as a young boy. My parents asked me to go out onto our deck to bring in the furniture cushions. I didn’t think too much about it until lightning struck our house while I was outside. It definitely was a bright flash of light. Obviously, I dropped the cushions and ran indoors as quickly as I could. While we didn’t know it at the time, the lightning ran through our house burning out all our electronic components. Unfortunately, that put an end to the flashing disco lights on our juke box.

My second encounter was as a young dad living in an apartment complex. My newborn infant was peacefully sleeping in her crib. I went to close her window blinds and suddenly lightning struck the ground outside her window. Shortly after, I smelled smoke coming from our garage. When I went to check it out, I realized the garage door opener was burned out. Luckily, it didn’t start a fire. When I talked to my neighbor the next day, I learned that as a result of the lightning strike, their cordless phone was melted to the base.

While I haven’t won the lottery, you can see from my encounters, lightning can strike anyplace at any time. Here are some lightning myths and safety tips to keep your family safe.

Myths

1.  Lightning never strikes twice. While each storm produces different lightning strikes, an object can be struck more than once. An object’s size and location can make it an ideal target.
2.  If I don’t see rain or dark clouds, I’m in the clear. Lightning can travel several miles from the center of a thunderstorm. Even if your skies are blue, if you can hear rumbles of thunder it may be wise to seek shelter.
3.  Seeking shelter under a tree will keep me safe. While standing underneath a tree will keep you dry from the rain, or provide some protection against small hail, it won’t protect you from lightning. Being struck by lightning while underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning related deaths.
4. Only tall objects get struck by lightning. Lightning can strike anywhere. However, tall pointy objects do have a better chance of being struck. But as you learned from my encounter above, it can hit the ground and disperse.
5. Lightning can’t hurt me if I’m indoors. Staying in your home in an interior room during a storm offers you the best protection. However, if lightning strikes your home, it could run through cables, wires, plumbing, and electrical appliances.

Safety Tips

1. Always keep an eye on the weather. Whether you’re taking a day trip or an extended vacation, always be aware of the weather. Not only will it help you pack appropriately, it can keep you and your family safe.
2. Seek shelter. As I mentioned above, if you hear a rumble of thunder, it’s time to go indoors. Not only can lightning travel for miles, high wind, hail, and torrential downpours can also be dangerous. If you’re driving, consider pulling off the road and finding a safe location to take cover. If you must remain in your car, avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity. Lastly, avoid seeking shelter in tents and pavilions as they don’t provide adequate protection.
3. Turn off the water. Since lightning can travel through your home’s plumbing, it’s best to avoid using sinks, bathtubs, and other appliances that use water during a thunderstorm. You can take a shower or finish the dishes once the storm leaves your area.
4. Don’t use your electronics or appliances. Avoid using anything that’s connected to an electrical outlet. This includes computers, gaming systems, and household appliances. Lightning can travel through your home’s wiring. Grab a book to read, or simply relax until the storm is over.
5. Scatter. If you’re enjoying a family reunion and a storm quickly rolls in, scatter. Lightning can strike the ground and disperse causing injury. By moving apart, you can reduce the number of injuries to your family.
6. Don’t forget about your pets. If your pet loves being outside, don’t forget about it as you scramble to close your windows. Dogs that are on metal runners or that are leashed are more susceptible to lightning strikes.
7. Call 911. If your house is struck by lightning and you think a fire may have started, get your family to safety, and call 911 immediately. Don’t spend too much time investigating or trying to put it out yourself.

COVID-19 Update

by Flagship Staff | May 5, 2020 | Blog

Below are links to updates on legislation, regulation and guidance on both the federal and state levels in response to COVID-19

Congress

• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued a statement that the Senate will reconvene on May 4 as previously planned, will focus its efforts on responding to the coronavirus pandemic and will “modify routines in ways that are smart and safe.”
• After speaking with the House physician, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters the chamber will no longer reconvene on May 4 amid rising cases of the coronavirus in the District.
• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) issued a joint statement, warning they will oppose any future coronavirus relief bill if it fails to include liability protections for employers.
• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters that House Democrats will call for the inclusion of nearly $1 trillion in the next coronavirus aid package for the hardest-hit states and local governments.
• Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation that lays out a framework for an effective COVID-19 response by federalizing and adding critical oversight and transparency to the supply chain for critical medical supplies and equipment.
• Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) is working to protect symptomatic patients who test negative for COVID-19 from sky-high medical bills.
• Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act to publicly manufacture personal protective equipment, prescription drugs and other medical supplies necessary to combat the pandemic.
• Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a bipartisan bill addressing the shortage of doctors and nurses.
• Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced legislation to establish a task force to combat racial and ethnic disparities amid the pandemic.
• Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Fred Upton (R-MI) released the concept paper for their bipartisan “Cures 2.0.” The 12-page report unveils high-level areas of focus for Cures 2.0, which will look to modernize the delivery of healthcare in the wake of the pandemic.
• Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) introduced the Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID–19 Pandemic Act.
• Representatives Annie Kuster (D-NH) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation to support smaller organizations on frontlines of opioid crisis as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
• Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced legislation that would fund research to study the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on the mental health of Americans, and more specifically healthcare providers.
• Representative “Chuy” García (D-IL) and the Congressional Tri-Caucus introduced a bill to end health disparities in the U.S.
• Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) introduced a bill to enhance transparency of supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile.
• Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Phil Roe (R-TN) introduced a bipartisan bill to increase telehealth opportunities during pandemic.
• Representative Anthony Brown (D-MD) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Pandemic Response and Interstate Cost Equity Act of 2020 to create a federal price-controlling program on critical COVID-19 equipment to ensure lower prices and guarantee supplies are directed to where they are needed most.
• Thirty House Democrats, led by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA), introduced a bill to extend Medicare coverage to Americans who lose their health insurance because of the pandemic and its economic fallout.
• Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) introduced a bill to require hazard pay for frontline workers during the pandemic.

Administration

• The Trump Administration, along with the CDC and the FDA, released an Eight-Part Testing Plan and a Blueprint for Testing Plans and Rapid Response Programs.
• The White House released a fact sheet titled “President Donald J. Trump Remains Committed to Caring for Our Nation’s Seniors During the Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond.”
• The Department of Labor released guidance recognizing that the COVID-19 outbreak may temporarily impede efforts to comply with various requirements and deadlines under ERISA.
• The Departments of Labor and Treasury released an emergency final regulation regarding the COBRA-election period during the dates of the COVID-19 national emergency.
• The Paycheck Protection Program relaunched with the additional $320 billion investment, and the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department gave small-business lenders a dedicated time slot of eight hours last Wednesday to submit applications.
• The Small Business Administration released an interim final rule on disbursements related to the PPP.
• The SBA, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, also released an updated version of the Paycheck Protection Program Loans FAQs, which added guidance regarding operation date of businesses (Question 38) and review of individual PPP loan files (Question 39).
• The IRS issued a notice prohibiting small businesses that receive loan forgiveness through the PPP from tax deductions that would otherwise be deductible.
• The IRS also announced enhancements to the “Get My Payment” tool to deliver a more streamline interface for users.
• CMS issued another round of sweeping regulatory waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens.
• HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, launched a COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, allowing healthcare providers that have conducted COVID-19 testing or provided treatment for uninsured COVID-19 individuals on or after February 4 to submit claims for reimbursement.
• HHS also began the distribution of an additional $20 billion of the $50 billion general distribution to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19, augmenting the $30 billion that was allocated earlier this month.
• The Department of Labor released new model notice forms for employers looking to comply with COBRA’s notice requirements.

States

• Track where all 50 states stand on reopening here.
• Track the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.