CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-
082>084-VTZ013>015-291200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
800 AM EDT THU JUN 28 2012

...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES...

TODAY WE STUDY INDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY.

A HOUSE OR OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING OFFERS THE BEST PROTECTION 
FROM LIGHTNING. IN ASSESSING THE SAFETY PROVIDED BY A PARTICULAR 
STRUCTURE...IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS IF THE 
STRUCTURE GETS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING...RATHER THAN WHETHER THE 
STRUCTURE WILL BE HIT BY LIGHTNING. 

FOR A SHELTER TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING...IT MUST 
CONTAIN A MECHANISM FOR CONDUCTING THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT FROM 
THE POINT OF CONTACT TO THE GROUND. THESE MECHANISMS MAY BE ON 
THE OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE...MAY BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE WALLS 
OF THE STRUCTURE...OR MAY BE A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. ON THE 
OUTSIDE...LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE OUTER SHELL OF THE 
BUILDING OR MAY FOLLOW METAL GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS TO THE 
GROUND. INSIDE A STRUCTURE...LIGHTNING CAN FOLLOW CONDUCTORS 
SUCH AS THE ELECTRICAL WIRING...PLUMBING...AND TELEPHONE LINES.
 
THERE ARE THREE MAIN WAYS LIGHTNING ENTERS HOMES AND BUILDINGS. A 
DIRECT STRIKE...THROUGH WIRES OR PIPES THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE THE 
STRUCTURE...AND THROUGH THE GROUND. REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF 
ENTRANCE...ONCE IN A STRUCTURE...THE LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL THROUGH 
THE ELECTRICAL...PHONE...PLUMBING...ANTENNA...CABLE OR DISH 
SYSTEMS. LIGHTNING CAN ALSO TRAVEL THROUGH ANY METAL WIRES OR 
BARS IN CONCRETE WALLS OR FLOORING. 

CORDED PHONE USE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF INDOOR LIGHTNING INJURIES
IN THE UNITED STATES. LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES IN BOTH PHONE
AND ELECTRICAL WIRES...PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS AND DOORS AS THESE CAN PROVIDE THE PATH FOR A DIRECT STRIKE TO
ENTER A HOME. DO NOT LIE ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF A GARAGE AS IT LIKELY
CONTAINS A WIRE MESH. IN GENERAL...BASEMENTS ARE A SAFE PLACE TO GO DURING
THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER...THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. AVOID 
CONTACT WITH CONCRETE WALLS WHICH MAY CONTAIN METAL REINFORCING BARS.
AVOID WASHERS AND DRYERS SINCE THEY NOT ONLY HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE 
PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS...BUT ALSO CONTAIN AN ELECTRICAL PATH
TO THE OUTSIDE THROUGH THE DRYER VENT.

LIGHTNING ALSO CAUSES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY 
EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT STRIKES...LIGHTNING GENERATES 
ELECTRICAL SURGES THAT CAN DAMAGE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. TYPICAL SURGE
PROTECTORS WILL NOT PROTECT EQUIPMENT FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE. TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE...UNPLUG ANY APPLIANCES OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FROM ALL CONDUCTORS
WELL BEFORE A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS. 

TOMMORROW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE MEDICAL ASPECTS 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