Incredible Video of St. Pete Power Lines Fire Goes Viral
The intense weather this weekend led to some pretty incredible video on social media. From dunes on our beaches being destroyed that had just been repaired to cars floating that got caught in the floods, there were some wild things captured on cell phones around the area. But nothing compares to this!
File photo.
A Florida woman captured this scary moment when an electrical fire zipped through the powerlines near her home. It reminded me of the sparks we saw in the movie Back to the Future when Marty and Doc jumped in that DeLorean and achieved time travel! Fortunately it looks like no one was hurt and the fire burned itself out as it reached the end of the last line you see in the video.
Paul Dellegatto from Fox 13 seems to think it was caused by a fault current. A tree might have been knocked on to the power lines due to the heavy winds we had. He says this was shot in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Pete, which is a VERY short drive from Q105. Yikes.
Surviving Thunderstorms: 5 Don'ts You Must Remember
Thunderstorms can be both fascinating and scary, with their electrifying displays of lightning and booming thunder. However, not everyone knows that there are certain things you’re not supposed to do when there’s a thunderstorm.
During the summer months, thunderstorms occur frequently due to the high humidity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 73 percent of lightning-related fatalities occur in June, July, and August. According to the National Weather Service, an excess of moisture in the atmosphere, atmospheric instability, and a triggering mechanism are the conditions that lead to thunderstorms. When these elements are combined, they can unleash a powerful symphony of heavy rainfall, thunder, lightning, strong winds, and even hail.
Being prepared for thunderstorms
The American Red Cross has some advice on how to get ready for those wild summer thunderstorms. Taking preventive measures like subscribing to local government emergency alerts, equipping your home with backup batteries, and devising a family plan for hazardous weather situations can all prove invaluable during emergencies.
Thunderstorm myths and misconceptions
When it comes to thunderstorms, there are plenty of myths and misconceptions about what you should avoid doing. One of the most common misconceptions is that wearing rubber-soled shoes or being inside a car with rubber tires makes us immune to lightning strikes. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Lightning can still travel through the ground or the metal frame of a car, even if it has rubber tires.
Many people believe that as long as they’re not directly under the storm cloud, they are safe from lightning strikes. However, lightning bolts can extend horizontally for significant distances, reaching as far as 10 miles away from the storm. And also keep in mind that trees, especially tall ones, are prime targets for lightning strikes due to their height and conductivity.
Along with getting prepared and knowing thunderstorm myths, you have to know what not to do during a thunderstorm.
Here are 5 things you should never do during a thunderstorm.
Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.
