That sounded scary!

Standing on anything dry and non-conducting is a good idea. It's not going to save you from a direct hit from above or sideways, but if there's a strike nearby and its transmitted through the ground, it should insulate you from it. At least, that's the theory.

And if anyone thinks they can't be hit by lightning sideways through the open window of a car, think again. That's what happened to a forest ranger (he was in the Guiness Book of World Records as the person who has been struck by lightning the most times -- 8 times, I think).

Sue