Do You Talk On The Phone During A Thunderstorm?
By CatsandDogs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
June 15, 2009 6:48pm CST
Gosh!! I hope NOT!! I sure don't!! I've heard stories of people getting hit by lightening while talking on the telephone and were killed and I've read a book about a man who was nearly killed while talking on the phone. A bolt of lightening came through his telephone line and knocked him out and when he came to, he had severe burns all over his body!! He was lucky though because he lived through it whereas, most do not.
So do you play it safe and let the phone ring during a thunderstorm? I always play it safe and let my Answering Machine get it. Now if it were an emergency then I might take a chance depending on how bad the emergency is.
Now, I don't know about cell phones though and do wonder. Do you know if cell phones are included? I know that land lines are very dangerous during storms and would think that cell phones are too but I'm not sure on that.
Now I have a story to tell that was told to me by my grandmother. It's a right sad story but a true one nonetheless.
When she married my grandfather, she was working at a pizza place and it was nearby a Navy base. It was a sunny day and there were four sailors working on this pole. Lunch time came around and the guys came into the pizza place for lunch. As they placed their order, they found that they didn't have enough money to pay so my grandmother made a deal with them that they go ahead and enjoy their meal if they'd come back and pay their tab. They all agreed. (Back then, a person's word meant everything) My grandmother told me that they all laughed and joked and had a good ole time till they had to go back to work. When they got back to the pole, it started to rain and all of the sudden, a bolt of lightening hit the pole and hit all four of the sailors and killed them. She said she was so glad to have given them their last meal for they had a great time when they were there but she felt so bad for them and their families for what a terrible tragedy!! Can you imagine?! Oh my gosh!! If that happened to me, I know I'd have lost my mind!! How terrible!! Ever since then and the time when I was a mere child of 5 years old, when the lightening hit our house, my grandmother has been horribly afraid of thunderstorms and rightly so!! She's gone now and at peace with God but I understood her fear and why. I had the fear of it too for a long long time and still do but it's more of a great respect for them that I get inside immediately and not play around but get inside NOW. Do you?
11 people like this
26 responses
@ElicBxn (63568)
• United States
16 Jun 09
its the wire to the wall, you can talk all during a thunderstorm on a wireless receiver or cell phone because you don't have that hard wire that reaches out into the world.
One of the people in an old Trek club lost her computer because the phone modum. There was a lightening strike miles away that fried her computer because of the wire.
So, if you have a wireless phone you are safe.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160491)
• United States
16 Jun 09
That matches what I thought. You put it into words really well.
3 people like this
@ElicBxn (63568)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I wouldn't worry about radio waves, we've had those flying around for 100 years. And really, while I understand that because of your vision, you probably talk on the phone more than some others, I still doubt you have that much to worry about.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I just had a second thought on this and here I'm reading what you've said!! lol Thanks ElicBxn for passing that information on! I was just saying to Oreo that I wondered about cordless phones and how technology has changed for the better in once sense and yet worse in another because of the radio waves or what ever it's called, causes cancer. lol I just might call an electrician to see what they say.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160491)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I stay inside, and do not take risks. I wonder about cordless phones and if they are dangerous. I should not be online right now either, because we are having a thunderstorm right this minute. That was a strange and sad story you told.
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Like you GG, I don't take any risks either and stay inside. Like today hubby and I were working in the woods again and a thunderstorm broke out and we scrambled to get everything together to put away and get inside. Better to be safe than to be sorry!
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Jun 09
HEY CATS, I never call anyone went the weather is like that but i have one friend that always call when their is a storm going on. I CAN'T STAND TO LET THE PHONE RING & NOT ANSWER IT. THAT WAS really a sad story about the guys at your grandma's restaurant. I sure it bother her for the rest of her life when there was a storm. Ican see wy, bless her heart. I HAVE NEVER BEEN AS AFRAID OF STORMS AS I SHOULD BE SO AM EXPECTING TO GET BLOWN AWAY one of these days. There was a guy from here that was talking on the phone during a storm & lightening ran in on the phone & blinded him. IT is a very dangerous thing to do. I also try to stay inside when it is storming. MY DIL is really afraid of storms & i can alredy see my little grandson is going to be the same way. I really don't think people should scare their children of them but alot of people do. HAVE A GOOD ONE, CAT.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Hi Jo, I hate a ringing phone too but I value my life too much to take a chance in answering it during a thunderstorm. I let the answering machine get it.
Yes, my grandmother was bothered by that for a long long time and I was surprised when I heard about it. She was a strong woman for sure but still, that had to be horrible for her. That's terrible about the guy who went blind!! Gosh, what a way to learn a horrible lesson!! I agree, no body should scare little children but teach them to have a healthy respect for certain dangers but not scare them like that. Shame on her for doing that to her own child.
You have a good one too Jo.... 
2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Jun 09
GOOD MORNING CAT, HOPE UR MOM is feeloing better today & YOUR DAD TO .U are so right about not scaring children. SO many mother's do that about different things & probably don't realize they are even doing it. IT goes through life w/them.E VERY TIME IT STORMS MY DIL HAS TO GO TO HER MOTHER'S BASEMENT , no matter what time of the day or night it is. Her mother has recently moved so don't know what she'll do but at least she want drag my grandson out in the middle of the night.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
17 Jun 09
Ah, now look at that! Two of my favorite people spreading some love! Hugs to you both!
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Every house I've ever lived in (three in total) has been hit by lightning. My current home has been hit once that resulted in my having to replae all the TV sets, had strikes near it that blew out my DSL modem, and one morning not too long ago we even saw ball lightning INSIDE my house (no damage done except for hte smell of ozone and scaring the crap out of us). Since I am apparetly a living lightning rod, I do tend to be careful during electrcal storms. LOL
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Damn AngryKitty!! Oh my God!! You must be a living lightening rod.... for real!! I've heard of people attracting lightening strikes and even an entire family, the father and the boys being struck down because it followed them where ever they went. I pray to God that it doesn't happen to you!! Come on now, we just lost one good friend, we certainly don't want to lose another!!
Now you have me really concerned for you dear friend!! Seriously!! Consider yourself hugged!!
Now you have me really concerned for you dear friend!! Seriously!! Consider yourself hugged!!1 person likes this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Jun 09
When I was a toddler (I remember this happening, always thought maybe it was a dream until my mom confirmed it recently as fact and couldn't believe remembered it) the whole family was watching TV together, families did during the 1970s, and my older brother was teasing me over a play-doh Grimace (purple guy from McDonald's) by not letting me have it, the television EXPLODED just a few feet from us! There was a small fire that was quickly put out by my dad as my mom and sibs whisked me to safety. Lightning had struck our house INSIDE from outside and made the TV blow up and go on fire.
I would not be at all surprised if it turns out that a lightning strike is how I die (many, many years from now I hope!) since it seems to be AIMING for me my entire life.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
16 Jun 09
Of course, i never talk on the phone whenever there's a thunderstorm. My parents always informed us to be extra careful during thunderstorm. One of my father's friend, ever got hit by thunderstorm when he talk on the cell-phone to one of his relatives. He told my father that, while he was talking on the cell-phone, he felt something shock through his hand. He quickly throw away his cell-phone. Luckily, he was able to escape alive, just with a slight burn to his fingers..
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Wow, that's some story! OUCH!! But that guy was very lucky to have escaped with his life!! Now I have a question, was it a house phone and did it have a cord or was it cordless? Or was it his cell phone? I need to call an electrician to find out how it really works and some are saying that cordless phones are safe. I want to be sure.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
16 Jun 09
As i heard from my father, his friend was using cordless phone, that's his cell-phone. So, better be careful when talking through cell-phone, during thunderstorm. If we are lucky, we are able to escape like my father's friend. But, please don't put hope in it....
2 people like this
@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Not only do I talk on the phone during a thunderstorm, I goof off online and even take baths during thunderstorms. :D Really, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go, whether it's due to lightning or some other cause. You can't go around worrying about every single thing that goes on in life, you'll turn yourself into a basket case with a bunch of stomach ulcers.
I'm not saying not to take any reasonable precautions, but it's not good to think "Oh, I can't call anyone because I'm going to be electrocuted" when you need to get in touch with someone. Relax a bit.
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
You do have a point there coolcoder but there again, I'm not going to invite disaster in my home or to myself, if I can help it. However and apparently, cell phones and cordless phones are safe. At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I don't have a fear of the storms, but I do have a healthy respect for them. A few years ago my house was hit by lightning, lucky for us all that happened was our outside wires coming into the house and our tv was fried. I unplug my computer when we have lightning. I try to avoid talking on the phone and also taking a shower, I only do that if I just have too. I also do come in and use common sense about it all. I used to clean up after fires, many times I saw what ightning could do. That is some story, good for your grandma trusting the guys for the food.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
17 Jun 09
Wow Polly!! That had to scare the living crap out of you!! I was only 5 years old when lightening struck our house and I remember every bit of it!! My parents and grandparents bought a house together in northern Virginia however, my dad's mom had passed away in Idaho so they were out there at the time and us three kids were at home with our grandparents. My brothers were in their room while my grandmother and I were in the huge living room. She was sitting in a recliner chair and I was sitting on the day bed by the wall. She had three little puppies in her lap and the next thing we knew, BOOM, BANG, CRASH!! My grandmother and I went straight up in the air in a seated position and came back down the same way and as my grandmother came back down, her hair stood on it's roots! Then all of the sudden, my brothers come flying out of their bedroom screaming "the house is on fire! the house is on fire!" and that's all I remember but it's enough. I'm guessing I was whisked away so I didn't see the fire trucks and what not but I did see the damage after they left. Lightening had hit a tree just outside of my parents bedroom window and bounced off and hit the very top of the window and it caught fire. It was really scary and gosh, what a mess it was too! A big ole gaping hole in the wall! I don't know how my grandparents covered it before it was repaired but gosh, what a mess it was!! Being that I was only 5 when it happened, that means it was in 1969. Shhhhh!! Don't tell anybody!! LMBO!!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Hey YOU!! 
Got some information for ya!! Cell phones and cordless phones are safe!!
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
Got some information for ya!! Cell phones and cordless phones are safe!!
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
16 Jun 09
People should be aware of the fact that they can be struck by lightening if they are talking on a telephone that has a wire. They needn't worry if they are using a portable phone because it isn't hooked to the main line. One of my friends was struck by lightening when she was talking on her phone. She refuses to be on the phone during a storm.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Hi ElusiveButterfly! Long time no see!! How are you?! Good to see ya!! It seems that some don't believe it or didn't know about it. I can't believe the one's who don't believe it for it's like "What proof do you need?" 
They actually believe it's an old wives tale!! I'm a bit dumbfounded by their disbelief but all we can do is reassure them that yes it is true and yes it can happen and will if they're not careful. 
It seems that some don't believe it or didn't know about it. I can't believe the one's who don't believe it for it's like "What proof do you need?" They actually believe it's an old wives tale!! I'm a bit dumbfounded by their disbelief but all we can do is reassure them that yes it is true and yes it can happen and will if they're not careful. 
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I love to be on my cell pone during the thunderstorm. I don't think it is any correlations between the phone usage and thunderstorm. I am not the expert, but if the case, people would be warned by phone company...
Maybe in some cases hopefully a coincident...
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Actually it's the corded phones that get zapped when they do. Apparently cell phones and cordless phones are safe. At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@tonyllenium (6252)
• Italy
16 Jun 09
i think i talked to the phone during a thunderstorm or used other appareil when there is a thunderstorm too!!
In reality i nevr thought deeply,as you,and so linked my activity to the thunderstorm i just did it and stop!!So yes in reality may be you can count that when there are thunderstorm but it did not happen to me to say ooh there is that so i must quit this activity and so on...so i will see the next thunderstorm what will happen..
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I'm glad nothing happened to you but please don't ever do it again for it's not worth the chance. Most people do not survive getting hit by lightening although some do but it's just not worth that chance. If you were to survive, you wouldn't want your arms or legs burnt off or having to live with burns for the rest of your life, trust me on that. It's just NOT worth your life or living life in agony if you were to live through it. It's just not worth it.
1 person likes this
@tonyllenium (6252)
• Italy
16 Jun 09
Ok so i will remember next time!!so considering that..i am a survivor here
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Thank God!! You gave me quite a scare there!! I don't want to see or hear about anyone getting hurt and that includes YOU!! 
I've had a couple of telephones get zapped from lightening and thank God I wasn't on it!! A friend of mine in Texas, her phone got zapped while she was standing nearby!! It liked to have scared her out of her shoes!! It taught her a huge lesson that she'll never forget!
I've had a couple of telephones get zapped from lightening and thank God I wasn't on it!! A friend of mine in Texas, her phone got zapped while she was standing nearby!! It liked to have scared her out of her shoes!! It taught her a huge lesson that she'll never forget!1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
16 Jun 09
Hiya my friend. This is so true. Before that, I'd like to say that the story your late grandma related to you is really a sad one. Imagine having a last meal and then being struck by lightning and passed away. Oh my...
As for my own story, this is true. Just a couple of weeks back, I was at home and talking on my home phone. Suddenly I felt like an electric jolt, but a sharp and short one. I suppose I felt nervous all of a sudden and just threw away the receiver. I was so lucky to escape unscathed. And at that time, I was in the other room, near to the window. The lighting was so sudden that I didn't see it coming.
I've always been a bit cautious like when it's lightning, not to ride or get on the road. If I'm halfway on the road, I'll find a coffee-house or some sort to rest for a bit before the rain stops. I hope that all people will be extra cautious when it comes to lighting. It is true; that they can strike anytime and it's just a case of bad timing, I suppose. But certainly one can take precaution and not to stand near metallic things, near to a tree, on an open field, near the window, talking on the phone like me, or fixing the electric while lightning is going on rounds. And it's best to just stay indoors with a good book or just sleeping on the bed and etc.
2 people like this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
20 Jun 09
Thanks for, my friend. I still need to get your name..
You are right, I'm absolutely grateful that nothing untoward happened and I'm going to be extra careful from now on.
Thanks for starting this discussion and posting the link for there are sure some things to be learned.
I still need to get your name..
You are right, I'm absolutely grateful that nothing untoward happened and I'm going to be extra careful from now on.
Thanks for starting this discussion and posting the link for there are sure some things to be learned.
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
16 Jun 09
NO WAY! I'm not stupid.
We get alot of thunder and lightning out here where we live for some reason.
Our biggest tree was hit last year and it blew apart like toothpicks, all over our lawn and all over the road. Scared the bejeesus out of all of us! The house shook!
During a thunderstorm I unplug the computer and the satellite receiver as well because I had to spend quite a bit of money a couple of years ago buying more television satellite receivers despite the surge protector that it was connected to for that very reason. Plus, the surge protector on my computer was half blown out. 3 of the 6 plugs are now useless and we just use it as an extension chord now.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
You are so right about that as well as cordless phones are ok too. Here's the site for you to check it out by.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@KSmith005 (12)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I've never heard anything real bad about doing it, but i definitly would not do so while outside, cause your phone might get ruined!
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Oh yes it's very bad to talk on a corded phone however, cell phones and cordless phones are safe. At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@Putranda (128)
• Indonesia
16 Jun 09
My telephone line was struck by lightning several years ago when there was a thunderstorm in my area. Fortunately, none of my family members was using it! Since then, my father always doesn't forget to unplug the cable line while there is heavy rain outside.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
Really? Wow!! How scary!! I'd unplug everything if I were your father! lol Once is enough for me!! Wow.... Thought I'd pass this information on to you. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe!! At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
16 Jun 09
HI ya Cats: That was a great story, though I hated to hear they got hit by lightning
but what a great time they had huh?
I've been on the phones one too many times during a storm and I know better,
I used to always say growing up that I was gonna be killed by lightning because
it just fascinates me so, I love to watch it, DUH! I sure didn't get that from my Mother as she was petrified of all storms;
but even now there is yet another storm building outside and here I sit with
my snoot on the computer ...that is a big no no if it gets too close I will shut it down but I guess I just have that I don't "care" attitude its not a good one either right???
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Fasinated by thunder and lightening? Are you nuts?! LOL I'm still fearful of them but not as bad as I was for a long time because I was with my grandmother and two brothers when our house was hit and it's something I'll never forget. I have a healthy respect for them, that's for sure! When we first moved here, actually I moved here and hubby was still in the army in Arkansas about to retire, we had one heck of a storm here and I was awed by it that I went out on my porch to see what was happening and the sky lit up like fireworks and liked to have scared the living crap out of me!! I backed up to the wall and was about to open my screen door to get inside and another LOUD boom bang crash carried on and I screamed blue blazes and peed my damned pants!! Now I haven't done that in many many many years but I sure did that time and then I prayed hard "Please God let me get into my house PLEAAAASE!!" and when I thought I could I flew inside and didn't go back out!! I was petrified silly!
Now to tell you, even a storm miles from your home can get your computer.
1 person likes this
@itsme_cha (504)
• United States
16 Jun 09
i dont talk on the phone when there is thunderstom, because i dont want to get electric shock, i heard that sometimes it will happen, and besides i am scared of thunderstorm or even lightning. so i dont normally talk on the phone during thunderstrom.
happy mylotting!!!
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I thought I'd pass this information on to you. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe!! At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@pickoy (733)
• Philippines
16 Jun 09
Oh my that's horrible. During thunderstorms, I turn off and uplug the TV, radio and computer coz it has an effect on signal based appliances. Its just awful getting caught up by a lightning when it has a very slim chance on hitting people. My grandmother used to tell me not to wear any metal for it may attract lightning too, so she often asks us to take off our watch and rings when there's a thunderstorm. Electric posts are prone to such thing as well and its because of the copper inside it.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
You are doing the right thing and for that I applaud you!! Thought I'd pass this information on to you. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe!! At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@kelly_hello (132)
• China
16 Jun 09
I will close the phone when lighting....
i really fear that .....i think everybody should protect himself safe...
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I don't blame you one bit for it is very dangerous. Now I thought I'd pass this information on to you. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe!! At least that's what this site says anyways.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp
@thumbd (71)
• China
16 Jun 09
It's so horrible! I don't answer the phone during the thunderstrom, my father told me it's dangerous so don't do that it. And the thunderstorm maybe damage some electrical things like your TV and modem, so I dont's use them during the thunderstorm too.
Thanks for sharing, catsandogs.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Jun 09
That's really good to read thumbd. Not many people know about it but I'm so glad to hear your dad told you so you could stay safe as well. It is true, it can affect anything that uses electricity for a lightening bolt is full of energy and can damage electrical appliances of all kinds. By the way, welcome to mylot and thanks for adding me to your friends list!!
1 person likes this
