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36th Annual Meeting of the National Weather Association Teacher Workshop (17 Oct 11)

36th Annual Meeting of the National Weather Association Teacher Workshop (17 Oct 11). Lightning Safety Mr. William P. Roeder Private Meteorologist. Lightning -- The Underrated Weather Hazard. Courtesy National Lightning Safety Institute. Public Education Is The Answer!. Overview.

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36th Annual Meeting of the National Weather Association Teacher Workshop (17 Oct 11)

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  1. 36th Annual Meeting of the National Weather Association Teacher Workshop(17 Oct 11) Lightning Safety Mr. William P. RoederPrivate Meteorologist Lightning -- The Underrated Weather Hazard

  2. Courtesy National Lightning Safety Institute

  3. Public EducationIs The Answer! Overview • LIGHTNING -- SIGNIFICANT HAZARD! • FLORIDA LIGHTNING THREAT • LIGHTNING SAFETY PROCEDURES

  4. Lightning -- Significant Hazard • LIGHTNING: The Underrated Weather Hazard! • 2nd Leading Cause Of Storm Deaths In U.S. (~ 50 / Year) • More Than Tornadoes! More Than Hurricanes! • Only ~10% Of Those Struck Are Killed

  5. Lightning -- Significant Hazard • LIGHTNING: The Underrated Weather Hazard! • Inflicts Life-Long Debilitating Injuries On Many More • Strikes ~500 / Year • ~70% Require Extended Care • Lightning Safety Receiving More Attention • Still room for more public education

  6. LIGHTNING: The Underrated Weather Hazard! • $5 Billion Economic Impact Each Year In U.S. • Airline ($2B) • Insurance ($1B) • 1 Claim / 60 Flashes • Power Industry ($1B) • Residential Fires ($147M) • Forest Fires ($20 M) • Electronics ($?) Lightning -- Significant Hazard

  7. Florida Lightning Threat When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! Florida -- Thunderstorm Capital Of U.S.! Vaisala, Inc. National LightningDetection Network (1997-2010)

  8. Florida Lightning Threat When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! Central Florida Is “Lightning Alley” Tampa To Titusville National Lightning Detection Network (1997-2010)

  9. Florida Lightning Threat When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! Top States For Lightning Deaths And Injuries LIGHTNING DEATHS 1. FLORIDA 2. TX 3. NC 4. OH 5. TN 6. CO (#2 1999-2008) 7. NY 8. LA 9. PA 10. MD LIGHTNING INJURIES 1. FLORIDA 2. MI 3. NC 4. PA 5. NY 6. OH 7. TX 8. CO 9. GA 10. TN 1959-2008(Holle Meteorology & Photography, Holle) 1959-2001(NWS/MLB, Bragaw)

  10. Florida Lightning Threat Lightning Is Leading Cause Of Weather Deaths In Florida

  11. Lightning Safety Procedures • Lightning Safety Personal Procedures

  12. Lightning Safety Procedures • Personal Procedures • Three Slogans • 5-Levels of Lightning Safety

  13. No Place Outside Is Safe When Thunderstorms Are In The Area! SOAP Lightning Safety Procedures When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now Its Safe To Go Outdoors!

  14. Lightning Safety Procedures When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now Its Safe To Go Outdoors! When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

  15. Lightning Safety Procedures When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now Its Safe To Go Outdoors! Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It's Safe To Go Outdoors!

  16. M E L B O U R N E Lightning Safety Procedures • LEVEL-1: • Schedule Outdoor Events To Avoid The Threat • Use Local Forecasts • Know Local Weather Patterns • Kudos To NWS / Melbourne! • Provide Lightning Information In Forecast / Warnings • www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb • NOAA Weather Radio • Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook! • National Leader!

  17. Lightning Safety Procedures • LEVEL-2: • Know When And Where To Go For Lightning Safety • Watch For Approaching Or Locally Developing Storms • When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! • Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! • May Seem Too Conservative -- It’s NOT! “Bolt From The Blue”

  18. Lightning Safety Procedures 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 • Seek A Safe Place: • Large Fully Enclosed Building With Wiring & Plumbing or Vehicle With Solid Metal Roof And Solid Metal Sides • No Place Outside Is Safe When Thunderstorms In The Area Relative Lightning Protection Outdoors

  19. Lightning Safety Procedures • Once In Proper Shelter, Avoid Conducting Paths To Outside • Telephone (corded) • Except In Emergencies • Electrical Appliances / Wiring • TVs And TV Cables • Computers • Light Switches • Plumbing • Showers • Sinks • Rest Rooms • Pools • Don’t Watch Lightning From Window / Doorway • Inner Rooms Are Generally Better

  20. Lightning Safety Procedures • LEVEL-3: • If You Must Be Outside With Thunderstorms In The Area, Avoid: • Elevated Places • Open Areas (Sports Fields, Beaches) • Tall Isolated Objects (Trees) • Unprotected Pavilions (Rain & Picnic Shelters) • Water Related Activities (Swimming, Boating, Fishing) • Indoor Pools Too • Large Metal Structures (Bleachers, Fences) • Metal Doesn’t Attract Lightning, But Conducts It Long Distance

  21. When Thunderstorms Nearby, Avoid These Activities Like Your Life Depends On It -- It Does! Farm & HeavyEquipment(9%) UnderTrees(13%) Water(Swimming,Boating,Fishing)(22%) Telephone(5%) RadioEquipment(3%) Open Areas(Includes Sports Fields,Golfing (6% of total),and Beaches)(49%) Lightning CasualtiesIn Florida (1959-1993)(Southeast Climate Center) Lightning Safety Procedures

  22. When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! Keep Away From Trees!

  23. When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! Keep Away From Trees!

  24. When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! Keep Away From Trees!

  25. Lightning Safety Procedures When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now Its Safe To Go Outdoors! NO LONGER TAUGHTTO GENERAL PUBLIC! LEVEL-4: • If In An Unsafe Location And Thunderstorms Threaten . . . • Proceed To Safest Spot Possible • Separate By Several Body Lengths • Share Warning Signs And Warning Call • Lightning Is Imminent If . . . • Tingling Skin, Hair Sticking Out, Metal Vibrating, St. Elmo’s Fire, Crackling Static Sound • If Lightning Is Imminent . . . • Use “Lightning Crouch” • Best Balance Between Low Height & Little Area Touching Ground • Do NOT Lie Flat On Ground! LAST RESORT! • Wait A Few Seconds, Slowly Stand And Test If Okay, Then Continue To Safest Spot Possible

  26. National Lightning Safety Institute Lightning Safety Procedures When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! • LEVEL-5: • First Aid – All Deaths From Cardiac Arrest • Start CPR Or Rescue Breathing, As Required • Have Someone Call 9-1-1 • Use Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) • If AED Not Available, Or If It Doesn’t Start, Continue CPR Or Rescue Breathing

  27. Lightning Safety Procedures When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! • First-Aid -- Myths • “Crispy Critter” Myth • Lightning Is Death Ray • Only ~ 10% Killed • Survivors Often Have Life-Long Debilitating Injuries • Lightning Victim Is Electrified -- Don’t Touch, Or Be Electrocuted • It Is Safe To Apply First-Aid! • But Beware Downed Live Wires In Thunderstorms; Touching Victim Then Is Dangerous

  28. Wrap Up When Thunderstorms Are In The Area, You Have A Choice Go Inside, Or Else This Could Happen To You! Exploded Tree!

  29. Wrap Up When Thunderstorms Are In The Area, You Have A Choice Go Inside, Or Else This Could Happen To You! Runway At Eglin AFB, FL (May 99)

  30. Wrap Up When Thunderstorms Are In The Area, You Have A Choice Go Inside, Or Else This Could Happen To You! Stone Exploded! 3 Ton Blocks Moved! Louisiana State Memorial (May, Jul 99)

  31. Wrap Up When Thunderstorms Are In The Area, You Have A Choice Go Inside, Or Else This Could Happen To You? Chinese Crested Dog

  32. Summary When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! • Lightning Is Extremely Significant Hazard, But Far Too Often Underrated • On-base Lightning Safety • Listen For And React To The Phase-1 Lightning Watches And Phase-II Lightning Warnings • Off-base Lightning Safety • Three slogans • The 5-Levels • Vast Majority Of Lightning Casualties Easily, Quickly, Cheaply Prevented! • But Inconvenient, So Be Diligent!

  33. Lightning Safety Web-Sites • NOAA Lightning Safety: • www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov • Lightning safety information • National Weather Service: • www.weather.gov • Local forecasts for planning outdoor activities

  34. No Place Outside Is Safe When Thunderstorms Are In The Area! SOAP Lightning Safety Slogans When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors!

  35. Lightning Safety Slogans When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now Its Safe To Go Outdoors! When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

  36. Lightning Safety Slogans When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now Its Safe To Go Outdoors! Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It's Safe To Go Outdoors!

  37. When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors!

  38. Lightning Hat Photo Group Photo! -- Put on Lightning Hat in Your Gift Bags

  39. Lightning Safety When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors! • QUESTIONS? • www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov • www.weather.gov • For Lightning Safety Briefings, Call . . . • William P. Roeder • william.roeder@patrick.af.mil • (321) 853-8410

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