Central Florida is living up to its nickname.

Historically known as the “Lightning Capital” of the United States, Florida leads the nation in lightning-related deaths — and recent weeks have served as a deadly reminder of that reality.

In July, lightning struck a Flagler County mother’s home while she was holding her baby and a phone plugged into the wall, blowing them both backward.

In Winter Garden, lightning struck a couple while they were walking on the West Orange Trail earlier this month.

Earlier this month, 20-year-old Matthew Jenkins was killed when he was hit by lightning while running in Celebration.

Dr. Howard Smith, director of the Warden Burn Center at Orlando Health ORMC, has had the difficult conversations that come with lightning strike tragedies, and he wants to make sure more families never have to face them.

“There is nothing worse than having to talk to a family about someone being struck by lightning who is not going to survive,” Smith said.

Smith is urging Central Florida residents to take lightning threats seriously and have a plan before heading outdoors.

“It really is important to prevent yourselves from getting injured and anyone else from getting injured,” he said. “So we really want to push that.”

His advice is straightforward: check the weather before going outside, have a plan to get indoors quickly, and never ignore the sound of thunder.

“Make sure that you check the weather, have a plan to evacuate if the storms are bad,” Smith said. “And if you hear thunder, get inside.”

Smith says thunder is the most reliable warning sign that lightning may be close.

“If you hear thunder, you usually have within 30 seconds that the storm’s pretty close, and you want to stay inside until that thunder’s passed for a good 30 minutes,” he said. “And that will prevent most people from getting injured.”