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Emergency Officials Ask People To Heed Weather Warnings

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Summer storms across the country have caused severe damage and even death.

Rochelle Ritchie has more on the most recent storm deaths and the stern warning from emergency officials.

Maryland Natural Resource Police found another missing boater dead just Tuesday afternoon. They say people need to use common sense when deciding to go out in these treacherous storms.

Dark clouds roll over the blue skies of summer as another recipe of wild weather churns.

Rain, high winds and lightning---one bolt right over the Capitol---are just a snapshot of the ferocious summer weather all over the country.

"First you heard a rumbling and then the table slammed into the side of the window," said Todd Winkler.

The storms have already proved deadly in Maryland. One person was found dead Tuesday morning on the Susquehanna River and two boaters were found dead in the water just south of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

"The first you can give to the boating world is common sense. If it looks like it is going to storm later on, don't go out," said Candy Thomson, Maryland Natural Resources Police.

All across Maryland, emergency personnel are enforcing the notion that when the storm approaches, take shelter.

"These storms are dangerous. They are deadly but it seems people are not taking the warnings seriously," said Lt. Russ Davies. "Take the situation seriously because the storms have arrived with little warning although they were predicted."

While death is certainly on the table when it comes to these storms, the damage left behind shows just how easy it is to become the next victim.

Storms in DC left cars smashed by trees---a reminder of why staying inside as severe weather moves through is so critical.

"It sounded like a big explosion," said one woman.

While falling trees and flooding have been a major issue in Colorado, it's the lightning that's killed two people.

"It was like being dipped in a nine volt battery of water," said one man.

Missiles of electricity lit up the downtown sky.

"To have two people killed by lightning is extremely uncommon," said an official.

With more storms approaching, officials can only hope people choose to stay inside and out of Mother Nature's summer wrath.

Officials say even though you may not see lightning, you should take shelter if you hear thunder.

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