[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 201012 CCA
PNSOHX
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-210600-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED TYPO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
600 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2007

...LIGHTNING...THE UNDERRATED KILLER...

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A LOOK AT
LIGHTNING. LIGHTNING RESULTS FROM THE BUILDUP AND DISCHARGE OF
ELECTRICAL ENERGY...BETWEEN POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY CHARGED
AREAS.

THE AIR NEAR A LIGHTNING STRIKE IS HEATED TO 50,000 DEGREES...THAT
IS ABOUT 5 TIMES HOTTER THAN THE SURFACE OF THE SUN. THE ELECTRICAL
ENERGY FROM A FLASH OF LIGHTNING CAN POWER NEW YORK CITY FOR
ABOUT 45 SECONDS...OR LIGHT A 100 WATT LIGHT BULB FOR MORE THAN 3
MONTHS. LIGHTNING CHARGES MAY REACH AS HIGH AS 100 MILLION VOLTS
WITH ABOUT 30,000 AMPS. LESS THAN ONE AMP CAN BE FATAL.

LIGHTNING HAS BEEN CALLED THE UNDERRATED KILLER BECAUSE IT DOES NOT
GET THE HEADLINE ATTENTION OF OTHER WEATHER EVENTS. LIGHTING KILLS
ABOUT 100 PEOPLE EACH YEAR...4 PEOPLE WILL BE STRUCK AND KILLED BY
LIGHTNING IN TENNESSEE AND 10 WILL BE INJURED. YOUR CHANCE OF
GETTING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IS 1 IN 600,000...BUT IT COULD BE
REDUCED BY FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY RULES.

IF OUTDOORS...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A HOUSE...LARGE BUILDING...OR AN
ALL METAL VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. WAIT 30 MINUTES FROM
THE LAST TIME YOU HEAR THUNDER BEFORE VENTURING OUTDOORS.

IF YOUR HAIR STANDS ON END AND YOUR SKIN TINGLES...LIGHTNING IS
READY TO STRIKE. IMMEDIATELY CROUCH DOWN TO THE GROUND...TO MAKE
YOURSELF THE SMALLEST TARGET POSSIBLE. WHEN CAUGHT IN THE OPEN...
SEEK SHELTER IN A LOW AREA...AND THEN CROUCH DOWN AND COVER YOUR
HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

IF CAUGHT IN A WOODED AREA...SEEK OUT THE SMALLEST TREES. STAND AT
LEAST 5 FEET FROM THE TRUNK OF THE NEAREST TREE TO AVOID FLYING
BARK...SHOULD THE TREE BE HIT BY LIGHTNING.

IF YOU ARE WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE...EVERYONE SHOULD SCATTER OUT
BEFORE CROUCHING. LIGHTING WILL JUMP FROM PERSON TO PERSON IN A
GROUP.

WHEN BOATING...AND A THUNDERSTORM IS APPROACHING...HEAD FOR SHORE
AND GET INTO A SHELTER OR VEHICLE.  IF CAUGHT IN A BOAT...LIE DOWN IN
THE BOAT WITH CUSHIONS BETWEEN YOU AND THE BOATS SIDE AND
BOTTOM.

AVOID CHAIN LINK...OR METAL FENCES...MOTORCYCLES...BICYCLES...SMALL
METAL SHEDS...TRACTORS AND OTHER FARM EQUIPMENT THAT DOES NOT HAVE
AN ENCLOSED METAL CAB.

FOR GOLFERS...IF YOU ARE GOLFING AND A STORM APPROACHES...GO TO THE
CLUBHOUSE...OR A SECURED SHELTER ON THE GOLF COURSE. ABOVE ALL...
STOP PLAYING GOLF.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...AND YOU CAN NOT FIND APPROPRIATE SHELTER...GET
DOWN TO AVOID BEING THE HIGHEST POINT FOR A LIGHTNING DISCHARGE.

IF INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. AVOID TELEPHONES AND
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES...WATER PIPES...PLUMBING FIXTURES SUCH AS
SINKS AND SHOWERS. UNPLUG COMPUTERS AND OTHER SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL
DEVICES SUCH AS RADIOS AND TELEVISIONS. TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONERS.
POWER SURGES FROM LIGHTNING CAN OVERLOAD THE COMPRESSORS.

IF A PERSON IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING...THERE IS NO RESIDUAL
ELECTRICAL CHARGE LEFT ON THE BODY. THE QUICK APPLICATION OF CPR
MAY CONTAIN VITAL BODY FUNCTIONS UNTIL MEDICAL HELP ARRIVES.

MONITOR THE APPROACH OF THUNDERSTORMS IN YOUR AREA THOUGH NOAA
WEATHER RADIO...OR COMMERCIAL BROADCASTS ON A BATTERY POWERED
PORTABLE RADIO.

FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING...CONTACT THE
NASHVILLE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE AT 7 5 4 4 6 3 3.

$$
END






This weather bulletin was brought to you by:
www.nashvilleweather.net