Lightning strikes affect many people each year, with an average of about 300 people struck annually in the United States. A direct hit can be fatal, killing around 20 people per year. Survivors often suffer permanent injuries to vital organs.

The distance from a storm does not necessarily determine the risk of being struck, as lightning can travel far from its source.

Further information is available on the topic of lightning safety, including what lightning is and how it forms, as well as the risks associated with it.