I don't like to take thunderstorms lightly since I've experienced a lightning strike first hand. We've had several kids in our community killed by lightning because of being out in the open and not being aware of how far lightning can travel. One kid was on the track at the high school. He and his grandfather were enjoying quality time together when the boy was hit by lightning. Another boy was with his youth group from the church and was out floating on the river. A thunderstorm brewed and the kids got out of the water, but the boy was struck while huddled under a tree. The father, who was the minister, was with him when it happened.

I watched the Discovery Channel when they aired a program about people who were hit by lightning. One was a cyclist from CO that was hit by lightning and initially survived, but later died from complications. The scary thing was there were no storms predicted or clouds in his area when he was hit.