NZUS01 KLZK DDHHMM
WRKPNS
ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-222000-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
600 AM CDT MON JUN 22 2009
...GENERAL OVERVIEW OF LIGHTNING...
THIS IS NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK.
GOVERNOR MIKE BEBEE HAS DECLARED IT LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS
WEEK IN ARKANSAS AS WELL. 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.
TODAYS TOPIC IS A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF LIGHTNING.
LIGHTNING IS THE UNDERRATED KILLER.
IN THE UNITED STATES...THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 25 MILLION
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING FLASHES EACH YEAR. DURING THE PAST 30
YEARS...LIGHTNING HAS KILLED AN AVERAGE OF 62 PEOPLE PER YEAR IN
THE UNITED STATES...BASED ON DOCUMENTED CASES. THIS TIES THE
AVERAGE OF 62 DEATHS PER YEAR CAUSED BY TORNADOES. HOWEVER...
BECAUSE LIGHTNING USUALLY CLAIMS ONLY ONE OR TWO VICTIMS AT A
TIME AND DOES NOT CAUSE THE MASS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY...
IT IS UNDERRATED AS A RISK. WHILE DOCUMENTED LIGHTNING INJURIES
IN THE UNITED STATES AVERAGE ABOUT 300 PER YEAR...UNDOCUMENTED
INJURIES CAUSED BY LIGHTNING ARE LIKELY MUCH HIGHER.
WATCH FOR DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOST LIKELY TO DEVELOP ON WARM SUMMER DAYS BUT
CAN OCCUR YEAR ROUND. AS THE SUN HEATS THE AIR...POCKETS OF
WARMER AIR START TO RISE AND CUMULUS CLOUDS FORM. CONTINUED HEATING
CAN CAUSE THESE CLOUDS TO GROW VERTICALLY INTO TOWERING CUMULUS
CLOUDS...OFTEN THE FIRST SIGN OF A DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM.
AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM...WHEN YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AS FAR AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA IN
A THUNDERSTORM. THAT IS ABOUT THE DISTANCE YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER.
IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.
SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES...MINIMIZING THE RISK OF BEING STRUCK.
MOST LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES IN THE UNITED STATES OCCUR
DURING THE SUMMER. WHERE ORGANIZED SPORTS ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE...
COACHES...CAMP COUNSELORS AND OTHER ADULTS MUST STOP ACTIVITIES AT
THE FIRST ROAR OF THUNDER TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS TIME TO GET
TO A LARGE BUILDING OR AN ENCLOSED VEHICLE. LEADERS OF OUTDOOR
EVENTS SHOULD HAVE A WRITTEN PLAN THAT ALL STAFF ARE AWARE OF AND
ENFORCE.
INDOOR ACTIVITIES...THINGS TO AVOID.
INSIDE BUILDINGS...STAY OFF CORDED PHONES...COMPUTERS AND OTHER
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THAT PUT YOU IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH
ELCTRICITY. STAY AWAY FROM POOLS...INDOOR OR OUTDOOR...TUBS...
SHOWERS AND OTHER PLUMBING. BUY SURGE SUPPRESSORS FOR KEY
EQUIPMENT. INSTALL GROUND FAULT PROTECTORS ON CIRCUITS NEAR
WATER OR OUTDOORS. WHEN INSIDE...WAIT 30 MINUTES AFTER THUNDER IS
LAST HEARD BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN.
HELPING A LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIM.
IF A PERSON IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING...CALL 911 AND GET MEDICAL CARE
IMMEDIATELY. CARDIAC ARREST AND IRREGULARITIES...BURNS...AND NERVE
DAMAGE ARE COMMON IN CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
HOWEVER...WITH PROPER TREATMENT...INCLUDING CPR IF NECESSARY...MOST
VICTIMS SURVIVE A LIGHTNING STRIKE. YOU ARE IN NO DANGER HELPING A
LIGHTNING VICTIM. THE CHARGE WILL NOT AFFECT YOU.
SUMMARY.
LIGHTNING IS DANGEROUS. WITH COMMON SENSE...YOU CAN GREATLY
INCREASE YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE YOU ARE WITH. AT THE
FIRST CLAP OF THUNDER...GO TO A LARGE BUILDING OR FULLY ENCLOSED
VEHICLE AND WAIT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER BEFORE
YOU GO BACK OUTSIDE.
&&
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING SAFETY IS AVAILABLE ON THE
INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK
$$
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