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NOUS41 KWBC 161344
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
945 AM EDT TUE JUN 16 2009
TO: SUBSCRIBERS:
-FAMILY OF SERVICES
-NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
-EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
-NOAAPORT
OTHER NWS PARTNERS...USERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: CHRISTOPHER T. MAIER
NWS NATIONAL WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
SUBJECT: NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
CAMPAIGN FOR 2009
WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS
THE NWS WILL SPONSOR ITS 9TH ANNUAL LIGHTNING SAFETY
AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN FROM JUNE 21-27 2009.
THE 2009 CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF
LIGHTNING INJURIES ON VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE
CAMPAIGN FEATURES A COMPELLING VIDEO PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT BY ELLEN BRYAN...A MISS OHIO AND MISS AMERICA
HOPEFUL...AND HER SISTER CHRISTINA BRYAN...WHO WAS STRUCK
BY LIGHTNING NINE YEARS AGO. ALSO NEW THIS YEAR IS A
TRIFOLD BROCHURE WITH LIGHTNING SAFETY INFORMATION.
THE GOAL OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO HELP PEOPLE ACROSS THE
NATION UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING SO THAT THEY
TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN.
LAST YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES...HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE
INJURED OR KILLED BY LIGHTNING. LIGHTNING INJURIES CAN BE
LIFELONG AND EXTREMELY DEBILIATING. ON AVERAGE LIGHTNING
KILLS ABOUT 60 PEOPLE ANNUALLY IN THE UNITED STATES.
LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY UNDER
AND NEAR TREES AND IN OPEN AREAS. LIGHTNING SAFETY IS
CRUCIAL WHEN YOU ARE OUTDOORS...ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY
SUMMER ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN OPEN AREAS SUCH AS ATHLETIC
FIELDS...GOLF COURSES AND BEACHES. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...
SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IN A FULLY ENCLOSED BUILDING
OR HARD-TOPPED VEHICLE. THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE OUTDOORS.
PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES
WHEN A STORM IS APPROACHING OR EXITING THEIR AREA.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MORE THAN 10 MILES AWAY FROM A
THUNDERSTORM. RAINFALL IS NOT AN INDICATOR OF YOUR RISK FOR BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK ISONLINE AT:
HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOVTHIS WEB SITE PROVIDES LIGHTNING SAFETY INFORMATION...
STATISTICS...AND INSIGHT TO THE SCIENCE AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING AND LIGHTNING INJURIES. THE SITE ALSO PROVIDES OUTREACH MATERIALS...INCLUDING POSTERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENTS...TO ASSIST WITH LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS EFFORTS. SOME LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS: 1. KNOW THE WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE YOU HEAD OUTDOORS...ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. A PORTABLE NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS A GREAT WAY TO MONITOR THE
LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS WHILE OUTDOORS. OUR PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE METEOROLOGICAL SECTOR CAN PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED WEATHER INFORMATION...ALERTS...WEATHER RADAR...AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES. 2. WHEN OUTDOORS...KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY. LOOK FOR DARKENING CLOUDS...FLASHES OF LIGHTNING OR INCREASINGWIND...WHICH MAY BE SIGNS OF AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. GET TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HEAR THUNDER. IF A
COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING IS NOT NEARBY...GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED ALL-METAL VEHICLE. REMAIN IN SAFE SHELTER FOR30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER.
3. PLACES TO AVOID SEEKING SHELTER DURING THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE: BENEATH OR CLOSE TO TREES...SHEDS...CARPORTS... OPEN GARAGES...DUGOUTS...COVERED PATIOS...PICNIC SHELTERS ...BLEACHERS...BEACHES AND OPEN FIELDS. ALSO STAY AWAY FROM CLOTHES LINES...FENCES...AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE OBJECTS. 4. GET OUT OF THE WATER. IT IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY. GET OUT OF SMALL BOATS AND CANOES...AND STAY AWAY FROM POOLS AND LAKES. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE THE WATER AND TRAVEL SOME DISTANCE FROM ITS POINT OF CONTACT. 5. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT STRIKES...LIGHTNING GENERATES ELECTRICAL SURGES THAT CAN DAMAGE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE ACTUAL STRIKE. TYPICAL SURGE PROTECTORS WILL NOT PROTECT EQUIPMENT FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE...UNPLUG ANY APPLIANCES OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FROM ALL CONDUCTORS WELL BEFORE A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS. DO NOT WAIT TO UNPLUG EQUIPMENT UNTIL DURING ATHUNDERSTORM AS THERE IS A RISK YOU COULD BE STRUCK.
6. LIGHTNING VICTIMS DO NOT CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE...ARE SAFE TO TOUCH...AND NEED URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION. CARDIAC ARREST IS THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THOSE WHO DIE. SOME DEATHS CAN BE PREVENTED IF THEVICTIM RECEIVES THE PROPER FIRST AID IMMEDIATELY. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY AND PERFORM CPR IF THE PERSON IS UNRESPONSIVE OR NOT BREATHING.
REMEMBER...WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS.NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE ONLINE AT:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM $$ NNNN
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