Be prepared
Check with your local electrical contractor for advice on surges.
Have an emergency kit on hand.
Keep a list of emergency numbers handy.  
Act safe if caught outdoors: 

• Seek shelter in a hard top vehicle or solid building. 
• Never shelter under a tree or a group of trees. 
• If far from shelter crouch down, don’t lie flat. 
• If boating or swimming, leave the water immediately. 
• Avoid metal objects such as ladders, umbrellas, fences and clothes lines. 
• Secure pets in a safe place. 

If indoors:

• Disconnect computers, televisions and other electrical appliances. 
• Avoid using fixed line telephones unless essential. 
• Keep clear of windows. 
• Avoid metal fixtures, such as roofs, guttering, downpipes and taps. 

After the lightning

• Keep your radio tuned to local media <link> for updated weather reports and power outages. 
• Confirm location and safety of family members and immediate neighbours. 
• Check operation of essential household items and check fuse box for surge protection/fuse/circuit breaker impact 

This information has been supplied courtesy of Attorney General's Department, Emergency Management Australia.