[NAFEX] Lightning Awareness
tanis cuff
tanistanis at hotmail.com
Thu Jul 17 21:24:09 EDT 2008
This came over another list-serv last month. (Sorry! I'm catching up an a backlog of emails & nafex-posts!) I know NAFEXrs have more common sense than average, but I have to admit this year I find myself trying to finish "just one more row" as the storms approach. Too easy to have that false sense of security out in the orchard & garden. Be careful!
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When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Lightning Safety Week: June 22-28, 2008 [or ANY summer week!!]
Here is the NOAA link to information about lightning,
including a fairly current map of lightning strikes:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/
So far, at the time of this note,
there were 2,926 strikes in the past two hours
in the continental United States.
Safe Buildings:
A safe building is one that is fully enclosed with a roof, walls and floor, such as a home, school, office building or a shopping center. Even inside
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/indoors.htm
you should take precautions. Picnic shelters, dugouts, sheds and other partially open or small structures are NOT safe.
Enclosed buildings are safe because of wiring and plumbing. If lightning strikes these types of buildings, or an outside telephone pole, the electrical current from the flash will typically travel through the wiring or the plumbing into the ground. This is why you should stay away from showers, sinks, hot tubs, etc., and electronic equipment such as TVs, radios, and computers.
When a Safe Location is Nearby:
* Seek safe shelter when you first hear thunder, see dark threatening clouds developing overhead or lightning. Count the seconds between the time you see lightning and hear the thunder.
* Stay inside until 30 minutes after you last hear thunder.
What if a safe location isn't nearby? What if you're working at a site after hours? What if you're working with children?
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
For kids:
* http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/pdfs/leoncoloringpage.pdf
* http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/kids.htm
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