Lightning Safety Awareness Week in Georgia is June 26-30 and, with temperatures rising during the summer months, so does the chance for severe weather. According to the National Weather Service, there are approximately 25 million lightning strikes in the United States each year. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ranks Georgia the eighth-highest state in terms of density of lightning strikes per square mile. 

Georgia Power offers the following storm safety tips: 

1. Never touch any downed wire or low hanging wires.  

2. Never pull tree limbs off power, telephone or cable lines or attempt to repair electrical equipment damaged in a storm.

3. Never go near chain link fences – downed power lines or lightning strikes may energize the entire length of the fence.  

4. Avoid walking through flooded areas or puddles as they may be energized by downed power lines.

5. Never walk into areas where crews are at work. If driving near work crews, obey road signs and proceed cautiously.

Following severe weather, Georgia Power crews enter the field as soon as it's safe to work.  If an outage does occur, Georgia Power's Outage & Storm Center at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm is the place for the latest information to be prepared and safe. From the website, customers can access Georgia Power's Outage Map for estimated restorations times and sign up for Outage Alerts via text message and email.  

In addition to personal safety, customers should consider adding protection for their home today. Lightning strikes lead to costly insurance claims and are a common cause of power surges, sending a damaging spike in electrical voltage through the meter. Georgia Power's recently launched SurgeDefender - the easiest way to add protection for valuable home appliances for just $9.95 per month. To learn more, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Surge.