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PNSWSH

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
125 PM EDT THU JUN 15 2006

TO:       FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA 
          WEATHER WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS... EMERGENCY   
          MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/  
          SUBSCRIBERS...NOAAPORT SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NATIONAL  
          WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS...AND NWS 
          EMPLOYEES

FROM:     CHRISTOPHER T. MAIER
          NWS NATIONAL WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST

SUBJECT:  2006 NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN

WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) 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


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