Lightning
Lightning can occur within a cloud, between several clouds or between a cloud and the ground. This phenomenon can have an impact on aviation or pose a threat to people and homes.
Risks and causes
What can you do?
BEFORE
- Keep up to date with the weather forecast to find out when storms are expected Impact and probability(e.g. via radio, TV, the website or the RMI app).
- Make sure your pets are indoors.
- Install a central lightning arrester to protect your electrical network from lightning strikes. Alternatively, you can use a decentralised lightning arrester that you plug directly into a socket.
DURING
- Get inside and stay there. Close doors and windows.
- Listen to the weather forecast and follow the recommendations.
- Unplug electronic devices. Then disconnect the plug from these devices.
- Are you outside?
- Take shelter in a building, away from windows, or in a car.
- Do not go close to metal structures, trees, elevated peaks or hills, fences, forest edges and open plains.
- Do not move during a lightning strike. Stay still and crouch down.
- Do you need help from the fire service?
- Call for help via the digital counter 1722.be or the electronic form of your local fire service.
- Call 1722 if this number is active.
- Keep the number 112 available for people in danger.
- Is someone potentially in mortal danger? Always call 112.
- Report damage or specific phenomena via the RMI app. That way, the RMI can quickly alert others, and you help to improve future weather forecasts.
Read more tips on the website of the RMI
AFTER
- Do not touch electrical cables that have fallen to the ground.
Have you suffered any damage?
- Do you need help from the fire service?
- Call for help via the digital counter 1722.be or the electronic form of your local fire service.
- Call 1722 if this number is active.
- Keep the number 112 available for people in danger.
- Do you not need help from the fire service? Call in a qualified professional or carry out the repairs yourself (e.g. a tree that has fallen in the garden, a damaged garden shed, hail damage to your car).
- Take photos of the damage: these may prove useful for your insurance claim.
- Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. They will answer all your questions and help you start the claims process.
- Check whether the Disaster Fund will intervene in your case.
Impact and probability
The figures relating to probability and impact describe a extreme lightning strike. The BNRA theoretically describes such a scenario as follows:
- More than 1.5 lightning strikes per km2 hit the ground in less than an hour.
- The affected area includes at least 6 provinces. The meteorological phenomenon lasts 2 hours.
How should you interpret these results?
Within the BNRA, experts assessed three scenarios for each risk: considerable, major or extreme. On each page, you will find the results of the scenario with the highest score based on the combination of likelihood and impact. This does not mean that this scenario will occur or is the most likely. Read more here about how to correctly interpret the results.
Probability
Moderate
Human impact
Very weak
Societal impact
Very weak
Environmental impact
Very weak
Financial impact
Very weak
What do the authorities do?
The RMI issues warnings of strong winds, heavy rain, lightning and thunderstorms. These alerts are communicated by colour codes. Based on these colour codes, the local or provincial authorities take various measures to prevent damage, for example by closing certain areas or cancelling events.
In the event of a storm or severe thunderstorm, the fire service may receive a lot of calls. To avoid overloading emergency numbers, there are several solutions:
- You can submit a request via the 1722.be digital counter. This digital counter is always accessible, even if there is no storm (or storm forecast). Certain fire service zones also have their own electronic forms.
- The Federal Public Service Home Affairs can activate the 1722 number. You can call this number if you need non-emergency assistance from the fire service, e.g. for flooded roads, roof damage, etc.
Keep the number 112 available for people in danger.