'When it roars, go indoors.'

This week is lightning safety week and Emergency Coordinator Dennis Vassart says when a summer storm hits, it's important to know what to do in order to stay safe, adding the best thing is to be inside a building. Vassart notes, if you get caught outside during a lightning storm and there are no buildings nearby, stay away from tall trees and poles.

"You want to crouch into the leap frog position if lightning is striking close to you, don't lie flat on the ground because you want to give the least amount of contact and stay as low as you can."

Vassart notes even though the thunder rumbles lightning has been known to strike up to ten miles from its initial point in the cloud. He adds if you don't have access to a building for safety, a non-convertible, full metal vehicle will also work for safety from lightning.

"[To have a thunder or lightning storm] the dew point is more important than humidity. Humidity is more of a feel like word, dew point is actually the amount of moisture in the air," notes Vassart. "When the dew points are high, the weather is warm, and you have a cold front coming through, it will probably trigger rain and, quite often, thunderstorms."

Vassart adds, with thunder and lightning storms, hail may also be present and, in that case, you should seek shelter immediately.

"Hailstones can cause severe injuries and potential death, if they're big enough. You don't want to be out in a hail storm so, if hail starts to hit, don't worry about your vehicle, bringing laundry in from outside or pets in if they're outside. Unless they're tethered somewhere, [pets] will find a safe place. You want to make sure you stay away from windows as well because they can be shattered by hail and send flying glass at you."

During more severe weather storms tornados may also be present. Vassart says a tornado watch means conditions are right for the formation of a tornado while a tornado warning means you want to start finding a pre-planned safe place for shelter.

"That's something you should have decided in advance of any severe weather, where do I go if a tornado warning is issued."

Vassart notes to always stay away from windows and find shelter in the basement or inner room, preferably with piping in the wall for extra protection and bracing. If outdoors, he says to find a building for protection and, if all else failes, find a low-lying area and stay as low to the ground as possible.