Parts of South Africa have faced severe thunderstorms in the past weeks, and that could still be the case during the whole of summer. The City of Tshwane had its share of these dangerous storms and it is important for residents to know how to be safe.
Thunderstorms can be described as storms accompanied by thunder, lightning, strong winds, hail and rain and normally last for half an hour or in some cases, longer. It is important to observe when huge storms are coming, the first warning being a build up of dark clouds.
The South African Weather Services issue warnings through news broadcasts, therefore it is important to pay high attention and be prepared.
Staying indoors is the obvious factor. As soon as signs of thunderstorms, it is vital to stay put and indoor, especially in comfortable spaces. To protect your home, check and repair roof leaking, trim tree branches away from your house.
To avoid flooding your yard, make sure there are no arears that could cause natural watercourses. Do not dump rubbish in the water drainage system because when you need it to do its work, it will be blocked. If there are any loose objects around your household, fix them as soon as possible. The storm could cause even more damage.
Upon receiving weather warnings, you need to take precautionary measures. Hail is dangerous and could damage your goods, such as your car. Cover your car or park it in the garage to avoid having to spend mad amounts of money. If you have pets, bring them in a shelter. And of course your electrical appliances should be off, in case of electrical shock caused by thunder. Stay away from water for the time being, just to be on the safe side.
If you’re a distance from your house, make sure go inside a building, avoid using machinery or metal objects, high areas, open spaces such as sports fields, tall trees and do not drive during these storms, look for cover or parking that is not near water, electrical power lines and metal objects immediately.
Be aware of any metal structures such as fences.
If you don’t have a safe kit in your household, it is advisable to have one and always be alert of latest weather updates on T.V, Radio, Newspapers and Social Media.
