[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 161426
PNSOHX
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-170000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
830 AM CDT FRI JUN 16 2006

WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) WILL BE HOSTING ITS 6TH ANNUAL
LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN FROM JUNE 18-24 2006.

THE FOCUS OF THE 2006 CAMPAIGN WILL BE ON EDUCATING EVERYONE OF
THEIR OWN PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN REDUCING THEIR RISK OF BEING
KILLED OR INJURED BY LIGHTNING.

THE GOAL OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO TEACH LIGHTNING SAFETY SKILLS TO
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION. LAST YEAR IN THE UNITED
STATES...AT LEAST 43 PEOPLE WERE KILLED FROM DIRECT LIGHTNING
STRIKES.  ON AVERAGE LIGHTNING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 66 FATALITIES
ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION...HUNDREDS OF MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED EACH
YEAR... MANY WITH SERIOUS AND LASTING IMPACTS ON THEIR QUALITY OF
LIFE SUCH AS PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE AND HEARING LOSS.

IN THE UNITED STATES... LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR MOST
FREQUENTLY IN OPEN AREAS.  LIGHTNING SAFETY IS CRUCIAL WHEN YOU ARE
OUTDOORS...ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ACTIVITIES TAKING
PLACE IN OPEN AREAS LIKE ATHLETIC FIELDS...GOLF COURSES AND BEACHES.
IF OUTDOORS...PLAN TO IMMEDIATELY SEEK SAFE SHELTER IN A SUBSTANTIAL
BUILDING OR HARD-TOPPED VEHICLE IF YOU HEAR THUNDER OR THE SKIES
LOOK THREATENING.  THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE OUTDOORS.

PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES WHEN A STORM
IS APPROACHING OR EXITING THEIR AREA. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OVER 10
MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM.

ONE OF THE BEST RULES TO FOLLOW TO REMAIN SAFE FROM LIGHTNING WHEN
OUTDOORS IS CALLED THE 30/30 RULE.  ONLY USE THE 30/30 RULE WHEN
VISIBILITY IS GOOD AND THERE IS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW OF THE
THUNDERSTORM.  WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTNING...COUNT THE TIME UNTIL YOU
HEAR THUNDER.  IF THAT TIME IS 30 SECONDS OR LESS...THE THUNDERSTORM
IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS IMMEDIATELY.
WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER HEARING THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER
BEFORE LEAVING SHELTER.  DO NOT BE FOOLED BY SUNSHINE OR BLUE SKY.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK IS
AVAILABLE ON THE NWS LIGHTNING SAFETY WEBSITE AT /USE LOWER CASE
LETTERS/:

HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV

THIS SITE CONTAINS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY
AND PROVIDES INSIGHT TO THE SCIENCE AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF
LIGHTNING.  THERE ARE ALSO OUTREACH MATERIALS...INCLUDING POSTERS
AND PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENTS...TO ASSIST WITH LIGHTNING SAFETY
AWARENESS EFFORTS. THIS YEAR LEON THE LIGHTNING LION...A NEW CARTOON
CHARACTER CREATED BY THE LIGHTNING SAFETY ALLIANCE...IS FEATURED IN
A NEW COLORING SHEET FOR CHILDREN.

LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS:

1. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY. LOOK FOR DARKENING SKIES...FLASHES OF
LIGHTNING...OR INCREASING WIND...WHICH MAY BE SIGNS OF AN
APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. GET TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.  COACHES AND OTHER LEADERS SHOULD LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS DURING
PRACTICE SESSIONS AND GAMES.

2. POSTPONE OR HALT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE RAIN BEGINS. MANY
PEOPLE TAKE SHELTER FROM THE RAIN...BUT MOST PEOPLE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING ARE NOT IN THE RAIN. GO QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY
ENCLOSED BUILDING...NOT A CARPORT...OPEN GARAGE...DUGOUT OR COVERED
PATIO. IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS NEARBY...GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED
ALL-METAL VEHICLE AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE STORM HAS SAFELY PASSED.

3. PLACES TO AVOID INCLUDE: UNDER OR CLOSE TO TREES... SHEDS...
PICNIC SHELTERS...BASEBALL/SOFTBALL DUGOUTS...BLEACHERS...BEACHES
AND OPEN FIELDS.  KEEP TWICE AS FAR AWAY FROM A TREE AS IT IS TALL.
ALSO STAY AWAY FROM CLOTHES LINES...FENCES...EXPOSED SHEDS...AND
ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ELEVATED OBJECTS.

4. GET OUT OF THE WATER...IT IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY.
STAY OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF SMALL BOATS OR CANOES. IF CAUGHT IN A
BOAT...CROUCH DOWN IN THE CENTER AWAY FROM METAL HARDWARE.
SWIMMING...WADING...SNORKELING...AND SCUBA DIVING ARE NOT SAFE.

LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE THE WATER AND TRAVEL SOME DISTANCE BENEATH AND
AWAY FROM ITS POINT OF CONTACT. DO NOT STAND IN PUDDLES OF WATER.

THIS AND OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE
ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM


$$
END/ORCHANIAN

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