Storms frighten me.  You never know what damage they’ll bring.  In the past several weeks there have been quite a few intense thunderstorms rolling through.  I see and hear about all of the destruction they have caused in my hometown and the surrounding areas.  Downed trees and power lines have become a common occurrence. The other day I was thinking about all the things I was told growing up.  Stay indoors, cars are the safest place to be, do not use or touch anything that is metal or plugged into an electrical socket, unplug everything from electrical sockets, stay away from windows, don’t use running water or the house phone, etc.  As it’s been many years since I was taught these safety precautions, it made me wonder if it was all still true and if there was anything else I should know. I decided to do a little research and found a website, Ready.gov, that provided a wealth of information.  According to the site, most of what I was taught is true. Have you ever wondered if you should use your cell phone, iPad or laptop during a lightning storm?  This site explains that it’s ok to use wireless devices as long as they’re not plugged into a power source.  Good to know, now I can relax when I check one of these devices to track the storm, receive weather alerts, or pass the time.  I know that much of what I’ve learned may seem obvious, but sometimes we take common knowledge for granted and it’s good to be reminded and prepared. With hurricane season upon us and everyone thinking about emergency preparation, is there anything that you do to get ready for the big storm?