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NOUS44 KLZK 231104
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ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-231900-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
600 AM CDT THU JUN 23 2011

...SAFE SHELTERS AND LIGHTNING SAFETY INDOORS...

THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT...THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND TOURISM...THE U.S. 
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS...THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF ARKANSAS...
AND ENTERGY ARKANSAS INCORPORATED ARE SPONSORS OF THE WEEK IN 
ARKANSAS.

THE TOPIC FOR TODAY IS SAFE SHELTERS AND INDOOR SAFETY.

KEY INDOOR LIGHTNING TIPS

1...STAY OFF CORDED PHONES. YOU CAN USE CELLULAR OR CORDLESS PHONES.
2...DO NOT TOUCH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OR CORDS. UNPLUG ELECTRONIC 
EQUIPMENT BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES.
3...AVOID PLUMBING. DO NOT WASH YOUR HANDS...TAKE A SHOWER...OR
WASH DISHES.
4...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...AND STAY OFF PORCHES.
5...DO NOT LIE ON CONCRETE FLOORS AND DO NOT LEAN AGAINST CONCRETE
WALLS.

SAFE SHELTERS.

A SAFE SHELTER IS A BUILDING WITH ELECTRICITY AND/OR PLUMBING OR A
HARD TOPPED VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS CLOSED. 

PICNIC SHELTERS...DUGOUTS...AND SMALL BUILDINGS WITHOUT PLUMBING OR 
ELECTRICITY ARE NOT SAFE.

STAY SAFE WHILE INSIDE.

STAY OFF CORDED PHONES. YOU CAN USE CELL PHONES OR CORDLESS PHONES
IF THEY ARE NOT IN A CHARGER. DO NOT USE COMPUTERS OR EQUIPMENT
DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO ELECTRICITY. STAY OUT OF THE SHOWER AND AWAY
FROM OTHER PLUMBING AS WELL. YOU SHOULD ALSO STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS
AND DOORS.

REMEMBER YOUR PETS.

DOG HOUSES ARE NOT SAFE SHELTERS. DOGS THAT ARE CHAINED TO TREES OR 
CHAINED TO WIRE RUNNERS CAN EASILY FALL VICTIM TO A LIGHTNING 
STRIKE. BRING PETS INSIDE.

PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY.

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. IF YOU PLAN TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR HOME
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...UNPLUG UNNEEDED EQUIPMENT. DO NOT
UNPLUG EQUIPMENT DURING A THUNDERSTORM AS THERE IS A RISK YOU COULD
BE STRUCK.

HOW LIGHTNING ENTERS A HOUSE OR BUILDING.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN WAYS LIGHTNING ENTERS HOMES AND BUILDINGS.
1...A DIRECT STRIKE
2...THROUGH WIRES OR PIPES THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE
3...THROUGH THE GROUND.

REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF ENTRANCE...ONCE IN A STRUCTURE...THE
LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL...PHONE...PLUMBING...
AND RADIO OR TELEVISION RECEPTION SYSTEMS. LIGHTNING CAN ALSO TRAVEL
THROUGH ANY METAL WIRES OR BARS IN CONCRETE WALLS OR FLOORING.

&&

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING SAFETY CAN BE FOUND ON THE
INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK

$$

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