[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 201557
PNSOHX
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-211600-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1057 AM CDT SUN JUN 20 2010

...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK BEGINS...

THE 2010 LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN RUNS FROM JUNE 20TH
THROUGH JUNE 26TH.  WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS!

THE 2010 CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKING
ACTION SOONER. MOST LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS ARE CLOSE TO SAFE
SHELTER BUT WAIT TOO LONG TO GET THERE. THE CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZES THAT
NO PLACE OUTSIDE IS SAFE WHEN LIGHTNING IS IN THE AREA. IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER...LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE YOU. /WHEN
THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS/ IS THE NEW NWS MOTTO.

SINCE THE CAMPAIGN STARTED 10 YEARS AGO...THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF
DEATHS IN THE U.S. HAS DROPPED FROM 75 TO 58 PER YEAR. WHILE THIS
TREND IS IMPRESSIVE...THERE ARE STILL TOO MANY DEATHS AND INJURIES.
EACH YEAR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE INJURED...MANY WITH PERMANENT NERVE
DAMAGE...HEARING LOSS AND OTHER SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS.

IN THE U.S....LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY IN
OPEN AREAS. LIGHTNING SAFETY IS CRUCIAL WHEN YOU ARE OUTDOORS...
SPECIALLY 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 THE 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:

HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV

THE SITE HAS PAGES GEARED TO THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS...CHILDREN...
THOSE CONDUCTING OUTREACH EFFORTS...THE MEDIA...AND SPANISH
SPEAKERS. THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING
SAFETY...SCIENCE AND MEDICAL CONCERNS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION....CONTACT:

TOM JOHNSTONE
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
NWS NASHVILLE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE
THOMAS.JOHNSTONE at NOAA.GOV
615-754-8500 X223


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