PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
330 AM CDT WED JUN 23 2010
..THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
TODAY’S TOPIC IS OUTDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY. LIGHTNING KILLS–PLAY IT
SAFE!
MANY LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
WHEN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS AT ITS PEAK. DURING THIS TIME, PEOPLE TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER FOR A MULTITUDE OF RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES. BEING OUTSIDE WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE NEARBY INVOLVES
RISK, AND CERTAIN LOCATIONS ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS. TO BE SAFE,
THOSE WHO ARE BOATING, SWIMMING, FISHING, JOGGING, BICYCLING,
HIKING, WALKING, CAMPING, OR WORKING OUTDOORS ALL NEED TO TAKE THE
APPROPRIATE ACTION IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH.
IN GENERAL, THE THREAT BEGINS WELL BEFORE MOST PEOPLE THINK IT DOES
AND ENDS WELL AFTER MOST PEOPLE THINK IT ENDS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ACCOUNTS FOR MANY LIGHTNING CASUALTIES.
USING BASIC SAFETY RULES CAN GREATLY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF BEING
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. FIRST, PLAN AHEAD. IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE
PREDICTED, POSTPONE OR CANCEL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SO YOU CAN AVOID A
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SECOND, MONITOR WEATHER
CONDITIONS. WATCH THE SKY FOR ANY SIGNS OF DEVELOPING OR APPROACHING
STORMS AND LEAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THIRD, IF THE
SKY LOOKS THREATENING OR YOU HEAR THUNDER, IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER
INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE. REMAIN THERE FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES
AFTER THE LAST FLASH OF LIGHTNING IS SEEN OR THE LAST RUMBLE OF
THUNDER IS HEARD. SOME LIGHTNING VICTIMS HAVE ACTUALLY MADE THE
MISTAKE OF RETURNING OUTSIDE BEFORE THE THREAT IS OVER. FOURTH, IF
YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE IN A THUNDERSTORM, YOU SHOULD TRY TO QUICKLY
MINIMIZE YOUR RISK OF BEING STRUCK.
STAY AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES AND POLES. STAY AWAY FROM
THINGS THAT CONDUCT ELECTRICITY SUCH AS METAL BLEACHERS OR METAL
FENCES. IF INVOLVED IN ORGANIZED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, MAKE SURE THE
OFFICIALS IN CHARGE HAVE AND FOLLOW A SPECIFIC LIGHTNING SAFETY PLAN.
COACHES, UMPIRES, OR SCHOOL AND CAMP COUNSELORS NEED TO KNOW TO STOP
ACTIVITIES EARLY SO THERE IS ENOUGH TIME TO GET PARTICIPANTS AND
SPECTATORS TO A SAFE PLACE BEFORE THE LIGHTNING THREAT BECOMES
SIGNIFICANT. IF YOU CANNOT GET TO A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING, A
HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE IS A GOOD SHELTER. BE SURE TO ROLL UP
WINDOWS, AND MAKE SURE THE OCCUPANTS AVOID CONTACT WITH ANY METAL
INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
FINALLY, DO NOT FORGET THE SAFETY OF YOUR OUTSIDE PETS. DOG HOUSES
ARE NOT SAFE, AND DOGS THAT ARE ON A METAL CHAIN OR WIRE RUNNER ARE
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO A NEARBY LIGHTNING STRIKE.
THURSDAY’S TOPIC WILL BE INDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY.
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING SAFETY, VISIT
WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
JIM STEFKOVICH
METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BIRMINGHAM, AL
205-664-3010
OR VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/BMX.
