000
NOUS42 KTAE 021010
PNSTAE
FLZ007>019-026>029-034-031000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
510 AM EST MON FEB 2 2009

TODAY'S TOPICS FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN FLORIDA ARE 
LIGHTNING AND LIGHTNING SAFETY.

IN A THUNDERSTORM...THE ELECTRICAL CHARGE...WHICH MAY REACH 100
MILLION VOLTS...IS ALWAYS PRESENT AS IT SEARCHES FOR THE PATH OF
LEAST RESISTANCE TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT FROM THE CLOUD. IT MAY
STRIKE YOU...AN ISOLATED TREE...OR AN OBJECT IN THE OPEN. REMEMBER
THAT YOU DON NOT HAVE TO BE STANDING DIRECTLY BENEATH A THUNDERSTORM
TO BE STRUCK. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE
PARENT THUNDERCLOUD. NATIONALLY...THE UNDERRATED KILLER CLAIMS 100
LIVES AND INJURES 500 ON AVERAGE.

HERE ARE SOME COMMON LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES TO REMEMBER...

GET INDOORS. MOTOR VEHICLES...EXCEPT CONVERTIBLES...PROVIDE ADEQUATE 
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.

WHEN INDOORS...AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

AVOID TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES...LIGHT POLES AND TOWERS.

AVOID METAL OBJECTS.

STAY AWAY FROM SWIMMING POOLS...BEACHES...LAKES AND RIVERS.

IF YOU FEEL YOUR HAIR STAND ON END...LIGHTNING MAY BE ABOUT TO 
STRIKE. CROUCH DOWN LOW...BUT DO NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND.

THE 30/30 SAFETY RULE...

THE FIRST 30 MEANS YOU NEED TO TAKE COVER IF YOU HEAR THUNDER
WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF SEEING THE LIGHTNING FLASH. THE SECOND 30...OR
ALL CLEAR SIGNAL...MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES
AFTER THE LAST LIGHTNING FLASH OR THUNDER CLAP TO RESUME OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...
VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/TAE...THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AT WWW.FLORIDADISASTER.ORG...OR CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

TUESDAY'S TOPIC FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WILL BE MARINE 
HAZARDS AND RIP CURRENTS.

$$

WOOL