CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066-
082>084-VTZ013>015-281200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
800 AM EDT WED JUN 27 2012

...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES...

TODAY WE LOOK AT OUTDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY. 

NO PLACE IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE FROM LIGHTNING. HOWEVER...SOME PLACES 
ARE MUCH SAFER THAN OTHERS. THE SAFEST LOCATION DURING LIGHTNING 
ACTIVITY IS A LARGE ENCLOSED BUILDING...NOT A PICNIC SHELTER OR 
SHED. THE SECOND SAFEST LOCATION IS AN ENCLOSED METAL VEHICLE. 

A SAFE BUILDING IS ONE THAT IS FULLY ENCLOSED WITH A ROOF...WALLS 
FLOOR AND PLUMBING...SUCH AS A HOME...SCHOOL...OFFICE BUILDING OR 
A SHOPPING MALL. PICNIC SHELTERS...DUGOUTS...SHEDS AND OTHER 
PARTIALLY OPEN OR SMALL STRUCTURES ARE NOT SAFE. 

OTHER EXAMPLES OF BUILDINGS WHICH ARE UNSAFE INCLUDE CAR 
PORTS...COVERED BUT OPEN GARAGES...COVERED PATIO...PICNIC 
SHELTERS...BEACH SHACKS...GOLF SHELTERS...CAMPING TENTS...LARGE 
OUTDOOR TENTS...BASEBALL DUGOUTS AND OTHER SMALL BUILDINGS SUCH 
AS SHEDS AND GREENHOUSES THAT DO NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY OR PLUMBING. 

A SAFE VEHICLE IS A HARD TOPPED CAR...SUV...MINIVAN...BUS...OR 
TRACTOR. MOTORCYCLES ARE NOT SAFE. IF YOU SEEK SHELTER IN YOUR 
VEHICLE...MAKE SURE ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND WINDOWS ROLLED UP. 
DO NOT TOUCH ANY METAL SURFACES. IF YOU ARE DRIVING WHEN A 
THUNDERSTORM STARTS...PULL OFF THE ROADWAY. A LIGHTNING FLASH 
HITTING THE VEHICLE COULD STARTLE YOU AND CAUSE TEMPORARY 
BLINDNESS...ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
 
DO NOT USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES SUCH AS CORDED RADIOS DURING A
THUNDERSTORM. LIGHTNING STRIKING THE VEHICLE...ESPECIALLY 
THE ANTENNAS...COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF YOU ARE TALKING ON 
THE RADIO OR HOLDING THE MICROPHONE AT THE TIME OF THE FLASH. 
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SUCH SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION USING RADIO 
EQUIPMENT WHEN LIGHTNING IS IN THE AREA.

THE LIGHTNING SAFETY COMMUNITY REMINDS YOU THAT THERE IS NO SAFE 
PLACE TO BE OUTSIDE IN A THUNDERSTORM. KNOW THE WEATHER FORECAST. 
IF THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS...CURTAIL OR POSTPONE 
YOUR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. REMEMBER IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE DURING A 
THUNDERSTORM...AT THE BEACH...ON THE BALLFIELD...OR 
CAMPING...YOUR VEHICLE MAY OFFER THE SAFEST PROTECTION FROM 
LIGHTNING.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU CANNOT REACH A SAFE LOCATION? STAY AWAY 
FROM TALL...ISOLATED OBJECTS. LIGHTNING TYPICALLY STRIKES THE 
TALLEST OBJECT. THAT MAY BE YOU IN AN OPEN FIELD OR CLEARING. DO 
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TALL ISOLATED TREES. THE TREE MAY HELP 
YOU STAY DRY BUT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF BEING 
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

THE VAST MAJORITY OF LIGHTNING INJURIES AND DEATHS ON BOATS 
OCCUR ON SMALL BOATS WITH NO CABIN. IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE 
FORECAST...DO NOT GO OUT ON THE WATER. IF YOU ARE OUT ON THE 
WATER AND SKIES ARE THREATENING...GET BACK TO LAND AND FIND 
A SAFE BUILDING OR HARD TOPPED VEHICLE. 

YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY PETS DURING 
THUNDERSTORMS. DOG HOUSES ARE NOT LIGHTNING SAFE. DOGS THAT ARE 
CHAINED TO TREES OR CHAINED TO WIRE RUNNERS CAN EASILY FALL 
VICTIM TO A LIGHTNING STRIKE. 

TOMMORROW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO INDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY.  

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