•  Look to the skies. Darkening skies and heavy winds can be indications that a thunderstorm is approaching. If so, don't wait for the rain to fall or the first flash of lightning—take cover immediately!
• If you're stranded, stay away from trees, convertible automobiles, and water. Believe it or not, crouching in the open is one of the safer courses of action, if you find yourself stranded without shelter during a thunderstorm. The inside of a hardtop vehicle can be a great form of shelter, but the car must be fully enclosed in metal—not fiberglass.
• If you're driving, pull over. Pull over to the side of the road and stay inside your car, unless a safe building is close by.
• If you're boating or swimming, seek dry land. Water conducts electricity. In all cases, it’s important to seek shelter immediately. Before setting sail, check out your favorite weathercast for storm warnings, or check with NOAA Weather Radio, which is offered as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• If you're indoors, avoid using the telephone, and contact with plumbing fixtures, such as showerheads or faucets. Also, to protect property, turn off all electrical devices, including air conditioners and computers. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.

Before a storm occurs, there are practical things you can do to safeguard your home and property against lightning. Consider the following:

• Install surge suppressors. Today's sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers and televisions, are particularly vulnerable to electrical surges, and UL-certified surge suppressors are a relatively inexpensive way to prevent these surges from entering your home or other structures through the power lines. MetLife Auto & Home customers can save even more through a special agreement with world-wide leader Advanced Protection Technologies (APT), which provides a significant 30 percent discount off the regular retail price on all APT products. Just visit SurgeAssure.com and type in discount code SNOOPY6. The discount is available, not only if you have auto or home insurance from MetLife Auto & Home, but also if you have purchased any product from one of MetLife Auto & Home's affiliates, such as MetLife or MetLife Bank^®, as well.
• Install some type of lightning protection system (i.e., lightning rods). This will allow lightning currents to travel safely to the ground.
• Take a good look at the layout of your house and identify possible lightning hazards. This includes inappropriately secured electrical fixtures.
• If you're considering putting up a flagpole, plan carefully. A tall flagpole is an attractive target, especially if it’s the highest object in the area. Make certain to build the flagpole at least 20 feet away from property, to prevent lightning strikes from traveling toward the house.