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NOUS41 KWBC 181443
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1045 AM EDT WED JUN 18 2008
TO: SUBSCRIBERS:
-FAMILY OF SERVICES
-NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
-EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM: CHRISTOPHER T. MAIER
NWS NATIONAL WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
SUBJECT: 2007 NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
CAMPAIGN: JUNE 22-28 2008
WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL HOST ITS 8TH ANNUAL
LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN JUNE 22-28 2008.
THE FOCUS OF THE 2008 CAMPAIGN IS RISK REDUCTION AND
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZES THAT NO
PLACE OUTSIDE IS SAFE WHEN LIGHTNING IS IN THE AREA.
LAST YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE WERE
KILLED FROM DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKES. ON AVERAGE LIGHTNING
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 62 FATALITIES ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE INJURED EACH YEAR...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 THEIR AREA.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MORE THAN 10 MILES AWAY FROM A
THUNDERSTORM.
STATISTICS...BROCHURES...MULTIMEDIA...POSTERS AND MORE IS
AVAILABLE ON THE NWS LIGHTNING SAFETY WEBSITE AT
/USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV
THE SITE HAS PAGES GEARED TO THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS...
CHILDREN...THOSE CONDUCTING OUTREACH EFFORTS...THE MEDIA...
AND SPANISH SPEAKER. 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 STORM HAS PASSED.
3. PLACES TO AVOID INCLUDE TREES... SHEDS... PICNIC
SHELTERS...BASEBALL/SOFTBALL DUGOUTS...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. IT IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF
ELECTRICITY. 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 SOME DISTANCE BENEATH AND AWAY FROM
ITS POINT OF CONTACT. DO NOT STAND IN PUDDLES OF WATER.
NWS PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE ONLINE AT
/USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
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