It happened Wednesday morning at the training area of the US Army base west of Augusta. A key news release said Fort Gordon’s Department of Emergency Services and emergency medical services responded immediately. A military spokesman initially told FOX News that ten soldiers were injured, but later said one of the soldiers died from those injuries. “It is with a heavy heart that Fort Gordon confirms that one of the Soldiers struck by lightning this afternoon has succumbed to his injuries,” said Fort Gordon Deputy Chief of Public Affairs Ann Bowman. The trooper’s identity will not be released until his family is notified, Bowman said. Pentagon officials say the soldiers were treated at the medical center. Fort Gordon has not released details on the condition of the other nine injured soldiers. Their families have been notified, but their names have not been released. The extent of their injuries was not clear. “Marty, the girls, and I are praying for this trooper’s family and those also injured by this unfortunate lightning strike,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted. “As we hope for their recovery, we ask our fellow Georgians to join us in mourning the loss of their fellow soldier.” Fort Gordon, located southwest of Augusta, is home to the United States Army Signal Corps, the United States Army Cyber Command, and the Cyber Center of Excellence.
How can you tell if lightning could strike nearby?
The FOX 5 Storm Team says those close enough to hear thunder are close enough to be struck by lightning. The best thing to do is get inside. The 30/30 rule is one of the most important tips for staying safe during an electrical storm. If it takes less than 30 seconds to hear thunder after seeing lightning, it is close enough to be a threat. Once the thunder stops, wait 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities. To get an estimate of the distance of a lightning bolt from a location, count the number of seconds it takes to hear thunder, and for every five seconds, it equals one mile.
How can you reduce the risk of being struck by lightning?
Following a few simple tips will reduce your risk of injury from lightning:
Stay away from windows and stay indoors Don’t seek shelter under a tree, find a shelter For those who cannot go indoors, crouch low with minimal contact with the ground to minimize surface area Avoid water during a storm because lightning can travel through plumbing
What are some facts about lightning?
Here are some characteristics about lightning that are not necessarily widely known:
A lightning flash is no more than an inch wide. The lightning appears to flicker because it can actually be up to four different strokes in the exact same spot. Lightning kills and injures more people each year than hurricanes or tornadoes. between 75 and 100 people. Lightning is about 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It is five times hotter than the surface of the sun! Lightning appears to be clear or white-yellow in color, but it also depends on the background. During the summer months, you can see lightning up to 100 miles away (This is not called “heat lightning”)
The Associated Press contributed to this report
