Teachers injured by lightning strike in Tampa

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Two teachers were injured when lightning struck their school building during storms Tuesday. 

The teachers were standing outside Leadership Technology Academy on Madison Avenue in Hillsborough County. The school's principal, Leslie Logan said teachers were helping students get to their parents' vehicles, but were called back inside when they heard thunder.

"You actually felt the building shake when the lightning hit," Principal Logan recalled. "Because of the rain, all of our students were kept inside, and we had teachers outside directing the car line."

Unfortunately, a bolt of lightning struck before they were able to take cover.

"One of the teachers, out in the back, had an umbrella and felt a tingle through his arm into his hand, and the other teacher, she was coming in, was standing by the awning, which is aluminum," Principal Logan explained.

Rescue personnel said the two were taken to the hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The school building only had minor damage - three holes in the roof, now covered with a tarp - and students were immediately moved to another building after lightning hit. No students were injured. 

Air conditioning units in three of the charter school's classrooms were damaged and their communication system was downed due to the strike. Classes at Leadership Technology Academy were canceled Wednesday while repairs were being made. 

Principal Logan said administrators will now begin to reevaluate weather procedures. 

"From now on, we are going to make sure everybody is indoors. Even if that's car line and it means we have to dismiss a bit slower, I know our parents and our families would want everybody to be safe," she explained.