ATLANTA — Just last week a 15-year-old girl died after being struck by lightning while swimming off Tybee Island, according to police.
Many of you turned to social media to ask questions about the dangers of lightning.
Our VERIFY team took those questions to the experts.
THE QUESTION
How far away from a thunderstorm can lightning strike and should I shower during a thunderstorm? What is true and false about lightning danger?
THE ANSWER
We can VERIFY that yes, lightning can strike miles away from a storm. Plus, it's also true that the combination of metal and water adds to the danger, but people themselves are not conductors.
WHAT WE FOUND
Greg Schoor with the National Weather Service says in some instances lightning can strike even 60 miles away from the storm, and if it hits just 100 feet away, you can still feel the effects from it.
"Some of the more deadly lightning flashes have actually traveled through the top of the cloud and found their way to the ground well, well, well away from the thunderstorm," he said. "Counties and counties away."
According to the CDC, 85% of lightning fatalities are men, and 1/3 of injuries happen indoors.
"You can even have a piece of that energy travel to where you are," Schoor added. "So what are your chances of that hit compared to a direct hit? There are people who have been struck directly and survived."
When it comes to showering during a storm, we can VERIFY that showering or even doing dishes or using a landline telephone can be dangerous because metal and water are strong electrical conductors.
The CDC recommends that during a storm, you should avoid water, electronic equipment, corded phones, windows, doors, porches, and concrete.
"Do NOT lie on concrete floors during a thunderstorm. Also, avoid leaning on concrete walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring," the CDC says.
Schoor says its important to also debunk the myth about touching someone who has been struck by lightning.
"If you have been with somebody that has been struck, people think they shouldn't touch them because what if I get struck? That's complete myth. Our bodies are not containers or holders of any electrical charge," he said. "The best thing to do is to actually go to your friend or whoever got struck and talk to them, find out if they're okay. Don't move them. You can perform CPR but don't feel like if you're near them you can get zapped. That's just not a thing," Schoor explained.
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