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-------- Original Message --------
654
NOUS41 KWBC 161856
PNSWSH
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
256 PM EDT Thu Jun 16 2011
TO: Subscribers:
-Family of Services
-NOAA Weather Wire Service
-Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
-NOAAPORT
Other NWS Partners and Employees
FROM: Donna Franklin
NWS Lightning Safety Program Lead
SUBJECT: 2010 National Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Campaign: June 20-26 2011
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors
NWS will host its 11th annual lightning safety awareness week
campaign June 19-25 2011. The NOAA Lightning Safety Website has
some new features including a blog by NWS Lightning Safety
Expert John Jensenius, a widget, links to relevant news stories,
a new Leon poster, updated statistics, and lots of new
animations that illustrate how lightning works.
Most lightning strike victims are close to safe shelter but
wait too long to get there. The campaign emphasizes that no
place outside is safe when lightning is in the area. If you
can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
"When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors is the new nws motto."
Since the campaign started 10 year ago, the average number of
deaths has dropped from 73 to 55 per year. While this trend is
impressive, there are still too many deaths and injuries. Each
year hundreds of people are injured, many with permanent nerve
damage, hearing loss and other serious side effects.
In the United States lightning deaths and injuries occur most
frequently in open areas. Lightning safety is crucial when you
are outdoors, especially since so many activities take place in
open areas like athletic fields, golf courses and beaches. When
outdoors, if you hear thunder, immediately seek shelter in a
fully enclosed building with plumbing or electricity or in a
hard-topped vehicle. There is no safe place outdoors.
People are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes when a
storm is approaching or exiting the area. Lightning can strike
more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.
Statistics, brochures, multimedia, posters and more are
available on the NWS Lightning Safety website at:
Http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
The site has pages geared to the needs of teachers, children,
those conducting outreach efforts, the media, and Spanish
speakers. There is a wealth of information about lightning
safety, science and medical concerns.
Lightning Safety Tips:
1. Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of
lightning or increasing wind, which may be signs of an
approaching thunderstorm. Get to a safe shelter immediately if a
thunderstorm approaches. Coaches and other leaders should listen
to NOAA Weather Radio during practice sessions and games for the
latest forecasts and warnings.
2. Postpone or halt outdoor activities before the rain begins.
Many people take shelter from the rain, but most people struck
by lightning are not in the rain. Go quickly to a completely
enclosed building with plumbing and electricity, not a carport,
open garage, dugout or covered patio. If no enclosed building is
nearby, get inside a hard-topped all-metal vehicle and remain
there until 30 minutes after the last thunder clap.
3. Stay away from trees, sheds, picnic shelters, bleachers,
beaches and open fields. Keep twice as far away from a tree as
it is tall. Also stay away from clothes lines, fences, exposed
sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects.
4. Get out of the water. Stay off the beach and out of small
boats or canoes. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the center
away from metal hardware. Swimming, wading and snorkeling are
not safe during a thunderstorm. Lightning can strike the water
and travel miles from its point of contact. Even standing in
puddles can be dangerous.
For more information, contact:
Donna Franklin
Lightning Safety Program Lead
donna.franklin@xxxxxxxx
301-713-0090 ext. 141
Nws Public Information Statements are online at:
http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm
$$
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