{"id":1059,"date":"2019-06-19T09:48:55","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T14:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carcampingtips.com\/?p=1059"},"modified":"2021-09-02T21:42:01","modified_gmt":"2021-09-03T02:42:01","slug":"camping-in-a-thunderstorm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/camping-in-a-thunderstorm\/","title":{"rendered":"Camping in a Thunderstorm: a Guide To Staying Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Boom!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t Always a scary sound when you’re camping. You’re hunkered down in your tent, the rain is pouring down on your tarp making a deafening pattering sound, and you’re probably wondering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am I safe from lightning while in my tent? Being in a tent offers no additional protection from lightning, even though you are protected from the rain. Fortunately, there are many options to help you stay safe if you’re caught in a thunderstorm, including avoiding open spaces, avoiding lone tall objects and the tallest trees. If you’re at a campground or car camping then retreating to your car or to a plumbed building will help you stay safe. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we jump into ways to stay safe during a thunderstorm while you’re out in nature, let’s dive into trying to understand what the risks actually are and if it’s actually something to be concerned about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s easy to dismiss thunderstorms while driving because you’re in a secure vehicle–however, there is actually a lot of risk that you might now know about. I talk about some interesting driving and thunderstorm facts (as well as some tips on how to stay safe) in my article, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the NCHS, available at the CDC’s website<\/a>, the number of rain-related deaths was the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because rain comes with thunderstorms, it’s inevitable that some terrain, such as canyons, and valleys can experience flooding, or even flash flooding (flooding with almost no warning). Aside from the flooding danger, as any experienced backpacker knows, staying dry becomes massively important when you’re hiking for a long period of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only do wet shoes encourage blisters, but rain, especially in the mountains, can encourage hypothermia. Exposure to cold is much riskier than anything else mentioned in this article.<\/strong> Your ability to stay warm is highly correlated with your ability to stay dry in the wilderness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although we are the least likely to be hurt by lightning than by all the other calamities mentioned in this article, it’s by far the most gripping and scary part of a thunderstorm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The consequences of being struck by lightning are severe<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the NOAA, noted below, 10% of people suffering from a lightning strike die. So your chances are good that you’ll make it through if you get struck by lightning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the side effects can affect the quality of life dramatically. People can experience seizures, heart problems, memory loss, and other several neurological issues including coma. The most common and severe side effects though are cardiac (heart) related. (source<\/a>) Many of these side effects stay with lightning victims for years, if not the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although we know better what amount of people die from lightning strikes each year, we know less about those who have been struck by lightning and survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDangers of Thunderstorms While Camping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dangers of Thunderstorms While Driving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dangers of Rain While Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cause of Death<\/strong><\/td> Number of Deaths in 2017<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Exposure to Excessive Natural Cold<\/td> 804<\/td><\/tr> Cataclysmic Storm<\/td> 132<\/td><\/tr> Flood<\/td> 27<\/td><\/tr> Lightning<\/td> 19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Dangers of Lightning While Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Consequences<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Odds of Being Struck By Lightning While Camping<\/h4>\n\n\n\n