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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1200 AM EDT MON MAY 21 2012

...NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MAY 19 TO 25...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL
WILL PARTNER FOR NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK MAY 19TH-25TH. THE WEEK
WILL HIGHLIGHT RELEVANT WEATHER AND SAFETY-SPECIFIC PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE RECREATIONAL BOATING PUBLIC. TOPICS INCLUDE
HYPOTHERMIA...LIFE JACKETS...THUNDERSTORM SAFETY...BOATING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE...MARINE FORECAST...WIND AND WAVES...AND EMERGENCY
POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACONS OR EPIRB.

TODAY WE WILL TALK ABOUT THUNDERSTORM SAFETY.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE A MARINER S WORST NIGHTMARE. THEY CAN DEVELOP
QUICKLY AND CREATE DANGEROUS WIND AND WAVE CONDITIONS. THUNDERSTORMS
CAN BRING SHIFTING AND GUSTY WINDS, LIGHTNING, WATERSPOUTS, AND
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH CAN TURN A DAYS PLEASURE INTO A NIGHTMARE
OF DISTRESS.

THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR
LIGHTNING...BUT ALL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING. A LIGHTNING
STRIKE TO A VESSEL CAN BE CATASTROPHIC, ESPECIALLY IF IT RESULTS IN
A FIRE OR LOSS OF ELECTRONICS. IF YOUR BOAT HAS A CABIN, THEN STAY
INSIDE AND AVOID TOUCHING METAL OR ELECTRICAL DEVICES. IF YOUR BOAT
DOES NOT HAVE A CABIN, STAY AS LOW AS YOU CAN IN THE BOAT.

BOATERS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN THUNDERSTORM CONDITIONS EXIST
AND HAVE A PLAN OF ESCAPE. MARINERS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AS AT
TIMES THEY MAY UNABLE TO  REACH PORT QUICKLY. IT IS THEREFORE
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOU DO NOT VENTURE OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE A
POSSIBILITY. IF YOU DO VENTURE OUT AND RECOGNIZE THUNDERSTORMS
NEARBY, HEAD TO PORT OR SAFE SHELTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ULTIMATELY...BOATING SAFETY BEGINS ASHORE WITH PLANNING AND
TRAINING. KEEP IN MIND THAT THUNDERSTORMS ARE USUALLY BRIEF SO
WAITING IT OUT IS BETTER THAN RIDING IT OUT.

THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND
THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL. VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE ON THE WEB AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV AND THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING
COUNCIL AT WWW.SAFEBOATINGCOUNCIL.ORG

$$