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684
NOUS41 KWBC 171449
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1045 AM EDT THU JUN 17 2004
TO:FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA
WEATHER WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...
EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
/EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAAPORT SUBSCRIBERS...
OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ CUSTOMERS
AND PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM: STEPHAN C. KUHL
NWS NATIONAL WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
SUBJECT: 2004 NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN
LIGHTNING KILLS: PLAY IT SAFE
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINSTRATION'S (NOAA) NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS)
WILL BE HOSTING ITS 4TH ANNUAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
CAMPAIGN FROM JUNE 20-26 2004.
THE GOAL OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO TEACH LIGHTNING SAFETY SKILLS TO
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION. LIGHTNING IS THE SECOND
DEADLIEST WEATHER-RELATED KILLER IN THE UNITED STATES...AVERAGING
67 DEATHS PER YEAR BASED ON A 30 YEAR /1974-2003/ TIME PERIOD.
IN ADDITION...HUNDREDS MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED EACH YEAR...MANY
WITH SERIOUS AND LASTING IMPACTS ON THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
IN THE UNITED STATES. . .LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR MOST
FREQUENTLY IN OPEN AREAS. LIGHTNING SAFETY IS CRUCIAL WHEN YOU
ARE OUTDOORS...ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ACTIVITIES
TAKING PLACE IN OPEN AREAS LIKE ATHLETIC FIELDS...GOLF COURSES
AND BEACHES.
PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES WHEN A
STORM IS APPROACHING OR EXITING THEIR AREA. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE
OVER 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM.
ONE OF THE BEST RULES TO FOLLOW TO REMAIN SAFE FROM LIGHTNING
WHEN OUTDOORS IS THE 30/30 RULE. ONLY USE THE 30/30 RULE WHEN
VISIBILITY IS GOOD AND THERE IS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW OF
THE THUNDERSTORM. WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTNING...COUNT THE TIME UNTIL
YOU HEAR THUNDER. IF THAT TIME IS 30 SECONDS OR LESS...THE
THUNDERSTORM IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS. SEEK SHELTER
INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER HEARING THE
LAST CLAP OF THUNDER BEFORE LEAVING SHELTER. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY
SUNSHINE OR BLUE SKY.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS
AVAILABLE ON THE NWS LIGHTNING SAFETY WEBSITE AT /USE LOWER CASE
LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV
THIS SITE CONTAINS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY
AND PROVIDES INSIGHT TO THE SCIENCE AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF
LIGHTNING. THERE ARE ALSO OUTREACH MATERIALS...INCLUDING POSTERS
AND PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENTS...TO ASSIST WITH LIGHTNING SAFETY
AWARENESS EFFORTS.
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 FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS
DURING PRACTICE SESSIONS AND GAMES.
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 INSIDE A COMPLETELY
ENCLOSED BUILDING...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 THE
STORM HAS SAFELY PASSED.
3. PLACES TO AVOID INCLUDE: UNDER OR CLOSE TO TREES...SHEDS...
PICNIC SHELTERS...BASEBALL/SOFTBALL DUGOUTS...BLEACHERS...BEACHES
AND OPEN FIELDS. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER AVAILABLE AND LIGHTNING
THREATENS...CROUCH IN THE OPEN ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET AND
COVER YOUR EARS. 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...SNORKLING...AND SCUBA DIVING ARE NOT SAFE.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE THE WATER AND TRAVEL SOME DISTANCE BENEATH
AND AWAY FROM ITS POINT OF CONTACT. DO NOT STAND IN PUDDLES OF
WATER.
THIS AND OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$
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