Lightning often strikes tall buildings. However, many buildings
have lightning rods to protect them from lightning. When lightning
strikes, the electricity goes safely down the metal rod to the ground.
Benjamin Franklin, the American statesman, invented the lightning rod
in 1760. That is why buildings like the Empire State Building in New
York City are safe. Lightning may hit this building as many as twelve
times in twenty minutes and as often as 500 times a year. Airplanes are
not as easy to protect as buildings, and accidents do happen. In 1963,
a Boeing 707 jet was hit by lightning and crashed. Eighty-one
people died.
If you see thunder and lightning coming, here are some things you
can do to protect yourselfQGo inside a house, get into a car, or go um tor
a bridge. If you cannot find shelter, go to the lowest point on the