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Lightning Shelters and Safe Locations

A barn, a shed and a pickup are not the same when lightning is near. Choosing shelters ahead of time is easier than judging them with a storm overhead.

What counts as a safe location?

Official weather guidance describes two broad kinds of safer places: a substantial enclosed building, and a fully enclosed metal-topped vehicle. Many farm structures do not fit either description. Open sheds, pavilions, hay stacks, equipment shelters and small outbuildings may offer little protection.

Read the National Weather Service lightning safety page for the exact wording and reasons, and then walk your farm to see what truly qualifies.

Many people believe that a barn offers protection simply because it has a roof. Roofs do not stop lightning, and barns with open sides, hay lofts or dirt floors vary widely in how they are built. Treat the question as a safety review, not an assumption.

• Substantial enclosed buildings are the model
• Open-sided structures are not shelters
• Isolated trees are not shelters

How do you survey your farm for shelter options?

Walk each work area with a notebook. For each field, pen and building, write down the nearest qualifying shelter and how long it takes to reach on foot or by vehicle. Gaps will show up quickly, especially in far pastures and remote fields.

Where there is no good shelter, the answer is to change the work schedule and watch forecasts more closely, not to accept the risk.

Ask your insurer, fire department or county emergency management office whether they can help you review structures. They often have experience with local conditions and can point you to relevant resources.

What should you know about buildings with wiring and plumbing?

Lightning guidance notes that the protection of a building comes partly from its wiring and plumbing, and that it is wise to avoid contact with those systems during a storm. Ask the National Weather Service or your electrician for specifics before you make rules for your farm.

A licensed electrician can also tell you whether your buildings have appropriate grounding and surge protection. Do not attempt electrical repair yourself in a storm or after a strike. Ask what a qualified person would check, such as service panels, outdoor lighting circuits and well pumps, and schedule that visit before storm season.

• Ask an electrician about grounding
• Ask about surge protection for key equipment
• Keep corded items unplugged during a storm if advised

What about vehicles and equipment cabs?

Whether a vehicle or cab protects you depends on its design. A closed car or truck is generally described by official sources as a better choice than being outside, while open-seat tractors, ATVs and utility vehicles are not shelters. Confirm with the manufacturer manual and the weather service.

If you are in a vehicle, keep windows closed and avoid touching metal parts inside. Check official guidance for the full list of recommendations.

Farm vehicles with soft tops, doors removed or cabs left open for ventilation should be treated as exposed. If your equipment has a fully enclosed cab, read the owner's manual and ask the dealer or manufacturer what it says about storms, without relying on a sales claim.

How do you mark and communicate shelter locations?

Make a simple map or sign for each work area that says where to go. Put it where workers will see it, such as the shop, break room or equipment gate. Include a phone number for emergencies and the farm address for 911.

Review it with new hires on their first day. Include guests, contractors and delivery drivers in the briefing where practical.

Consider a short training session for the whole crew each spring. A local fire department, extension office or Red Cross chapter may be able to help with a brief safety talk.

How often should shelter plans be checked?

Check at the start of each season and after any change to buildings, crops or crews. A shed that was converted to open storage, or a new field with no nearby shelter, changes the plan. Ask your local emergency management office if they can review your plan.

If a storm leaves a building damaged, have it inspected before using it as a shelter again. Keep a short written log of each inspection, with the date and what changed, so that the next review starts from facts instead of memory.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.