On July 26, 2003, mountain-climber Rod Liberal was nearing the summit of Grand Teton Mountain in Wyoming. As Rod clung to the side of a granite cliff, he saw dark clouds rolling toward him. Suddenly, there was a burst of light as a bolt of lightning struck his chest and blew him off the mountain. Attached to the cliff by a rope, he swung in the air thousands of feet above the ground. Would Rod be able to hold on until rescue rangers arrived to save him? Eyewitness accounts and incredible photos bring to life the experiences of ordinary people who faced catastrophic danger—-and lived to tell their stories. Kids will discover the causes and characteristics of lightning strikes, and learn about scientific advances in weather forecasting and safety precautions. Safety tips show young readers what to do in case they're caught in a thunderstorm.