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Blizzard Beach/Lightning ???

Dabeast

Member
Original Poster
2 years ago, while in BB, a severe lightning storm hit. CM's did the usual and closed all of the attractions, trying to move us all to safer ground. We couldn't stay in the passageway in the mountain, where the lazy river passes through, because apparently it serves as a lightning rod. We were told that if any part of the mountain got hit, we would be toast...so, we followed their instructions. Now, the CM's put us (@ 30 people) under one of the open air cabanas( yes, we were like sardines) and refused to let us leave, as they said it was to dangerous to walk to the parking lot with the lightning striking so close. All of us listened, with the hope that the CM's were right about it being safer there. Here is my problem with that, and no disrespect to the CM's. All of us were barefoot, because of having been on the rides all day. The rainwater was running under our feet, and most of us were standing in puddles. So my question is...If lightning had struck somewhere close to us, would the electricity travel though the water, and "toast":fork: everybody standing in the puddles. I just want to be prepared for our next trip, thunder and lightning seem to follow us when we're in Disney!!
 

AstareGod

New Member
Being a CM at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, I'm one of the people who is responsible for evac'ing lines and keeping guests safe under lightning shelters. Each "approved" shelter we have for guests includes at least one lightning rod, and while the lightning rod increases the chance that lightning will strike that particular shelter, the lightning will strike the rod and the rod will carry the electricity directly into the ground. I'm no lightning expert, but I believe that the lightning will take the path of least resistance and travel into the ground, bypassing any water around the entry point.

Our job is to keep you as safe as possible. While there's not much we can do in the way of torrential downpours in Florida that might cause minor flooding in the parks, I believe it would be better than running out in the open to your car and being struck by lightning and having it course throughout your body instead of just at your feet, since you carry no path to the ground if you're just simply standing on it and the lightning doesn't enter through you.
 

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