Iowa Woman Is Ninth U.S. Lightning-Related Death of 2015

June 21,2015



 
A 42-year-old Iowa woman was killed by lightning Friday while camping with family and friends.
The Associated Press reports Rebecca McCarty was killed on the evening of Saturday, June 20 when she was struck by lightning while walking between camping spots at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area near Palo. She was later pronounced dead at a Cedar Rapids hospital, the report added.
Nine people have been killed by lightning in five states so far in 2015, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has more details on most of those fatalities.
2015 Lightning Deaths:
Florida: One death in Bonita Springs on May 13.
Iowa: One death in Moscow on May 4 and another near Palo on June 20.
North Carolina: Two deaths total on April 9. One in Cary and another in Anderson Creek.
New Mexico: One death in Carrizozo on May 15.
West Virginia: One death in Fayetteville on June 1.
Arkansas: One death in Benton County on June 13.
Florida: One death in Largo on June 19.

Lightning Facts

NOAA says that during the 10-year period of 2004-2013, 33 people were killed and 234 were injured by lightning strikes annually.
On average, lightning strikes are fatal to about 10 percent of people who are struck. The remaining 90 percent survive, however they often suffer from an array of long-term, often debilitating symptoms.
No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Immediately move to safe shelter, a substantial building or inside an enclosed metal-topped vehicle.
Below are some additional facts about lightning:

• 25 million - Average U.S. cloud-to-ground lightning strikes per year
• 50,000 degrees (F) - Temperature that lightning can reach
• 1,800 - Average number of thunderstorms on earth at any given moment
• 100 - Number of times lightning hits earth per second
• 5-10 miles - Distance lightning can strike away from a thunderstorm
• The energy of a lightning bolt can exceed the power of a nuclear reactor
• Average lightning strike can light a 100-watt bulb for more than 3 months

MORE: Lightning Strikes at Iconic Places