By far the deadliest place to be is Brevard County. Irv Watson, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Tallhassee, Fla., is another scientist who has spent much of his career studying lightning. A former softball umpire as well, he advises people to take cover if they count fewer than 10 seconds between a lightning flash and a thunderclap. That means lightning is less than two miles away. Taking showers or using a conventional telephone also are no-nos.
Many people fall prey to a common misconception and seek shelter from a storm under a tree.
As the highest point in an area, they became a prime target for lightning bolts. While Florida is the Lightning Capital of the U.S., Watson was quick to point out that it is probably not the lightning capital of the world.