CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>
066-082>084-VTZ013>015-261200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
800 AM EDT MON JUN 25 2012

...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK 
CONTINUES.

TODAY WE REVIEW THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LIGHTNING SAFETY.

ON AVERAGE...LIGHTNING KILLS 54 PEOPLE PER YEAR IN THE UNITED 
STATES. MORE THAN 80% OF LIGHTNING VICTIMS ARE MALE. BE A FORCE 
OF NATURE BY KNOWING YOUR RISK...TAKING ACTION...AND BEING AN 
EXAMPLE.

RESIDENTS OF EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND ARE 
SUSCEPTIBLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES. DURING A THUNDERSTORM...EACH 
FLASH OF CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS A POTENTIAL KILLER. CHECK 
THE WEATHER FORECAST REGULARLY TO KNOW YOUR RISK FOR 
THUNDERSTORMS. 

IN ADDITION TO THE VISIBLE FLASH THAT TRAVELS THROUGH THE AIR...
THE CURRENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIGHTNING DISCHARGE TRAVELS ALONG THE
GROUND. ALTHOUGH SOME VICTIMS ARE STRUCK DIRECTLY BY THE MAIN LIGHTNING
STROKE...MANY VICTIMS ARE STRUCK AS THE CURRENT MOVES IN AND ALONG
THE GROUND. 

HERE IS A SIMPLE SAFETY RULE. IF THE THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS. 
IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF 
LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. THE FIRST STROKE OF 
LIGHTNING IS JUST AS DEADLY AS THE LAST. IF THE SKY LOOKS
THREATENING...TAKE SHELTER BEFORE HEARING THUNDER. WAIT AT 
LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER BEFORE 
LEAVING SHELTER. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY SUNSHINE OR BLUE SKY.

MOST LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES IN THE UNITED STATES OCCUR 
DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE COMBINATION OF LIGHTNING AND 
OUTDOOR SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES REACHES A PEAK. IF OUTDOORS...AND 
A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES...TAKE APPROPRIATE SAFETY ACTION. GET 
INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING OR HARD TOPPED AUTOMOBILE IMMEDIATELY.

INSIDE HOMES...PEOPLE MUST ALSO AVOID ACTIVITIES WHICH PUT THEIR 
LIVES AT RISK FROM A POSSIBLE LIGHTNING STRIKE. IN PARTICULAR...
PEOPLE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID CONTACT 
WITH ANYTHING THAT CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY. 

IF A PERSON IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING...SEEK MEDICAL CARE 
IMMEDIATELY. CARDIAC ARREST AND IRREGULARITIES...BURNS...AND 
NERVE DAMAGE ARE COMMON WITH LIGHTNING VICTIMS. HOWEVER...WITH 
PROPER TREATMENT...INCLUDING C P R IF NECESSARY...MOST VICTIMS 
SURVIVE A LIGHTNING STRIKE...ALTHOUGH THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON 
THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BE DEVASTATING.

LIGHTNING IS A DANGEROUS THREAT. THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF
FROM LIGHTNING IS TO AVOID THE THREAT. YOU SIMPLY DON’T WANT TO BE
CAUGHT OUTSIDE IN A STORM. HAVE A LIGHTNING SAFETY PLAN, AND CANCEL
OR POSTPONE ACTIVITIES EARLY IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED. MONITOR
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND GET TO A SAFE PLACE BEFORE THE WEATHER BECOMES
THREATENING. 

TOMMORROW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...GO TO 
OUR WEB SITE. WWW.WEATHER.GOV AND THEN CLICK ON EASTERN NEW YORK 
OR WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. FINALLY...SELECT OUR LIGHTNING SAFETY 
AWARENESS WEEK LINK.

$$
DIRIENZO