[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 251445
PNSOHX
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-252045-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
945 AM CDT MON JUN 25 2012

..LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...

THE 2012 LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN RUNS FROM JUNE 24TH
THROUGH JUNE 30TH. WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS!

IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR, THERE ARE ABOUT 25 MILLION CLOUD-TO-
GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES.  WHILE LIGHTNING CAN BE FASCINATING TO
WATCH, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.  DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS,
LIGHTNING HAS KILLED AN AVERAGE OF 54 PEOPLE PER YEAR IN THE
UNITED STATES WHILE INJURING 300 MORE.

IN TENNESSEE...140 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY LIGHTNING SINCE
1959. THIS RANKS THE VOLUNTEER STATE SIXTH IN THE NATION FOR
LIGHTNING FATALITIES BEHIND FLORIDA, TEXAS, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO
AND COLORADO. FORTUNATELY THERE HAVE BEEN NO LIGHTNING FATALITIES
IN TENNESSEE SINCE 2007.

SINCE THE LIGHTNING SAFETY CAMPAIGN STARTED 12 YEARS AGO...THE
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN THE U.S. HAS DROPPED FROM 75 TO 54 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... ESPECIALLY 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

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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