PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1230 AM EST THU MAR 17 2005

THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR NORTH CAROLINA.  IT IS TIME
TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF DANGEROUS WEATHER. TODAY WE WILL
DISCUSS LIGHTNING.

LIGHTNING IS THE DISCHARGE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN A THUNDERSTORM...
BETWEEN THUNDERSTORMS...AND BETWEEN A THUNDERSTORM AND THE
GROUND. LIGHTNING AND THUNDER OCCUR WITH ALL THUNDERSTORMS.

LIGHTNING KILLS NEARLY 100...AND INJURES MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE EACH
YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY. MOST LIGHTNING CASUALTIES OCCUR IN THE SUMMER
MONTHS AND DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. LIGHTNING CAUSES
SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND FORESTS
ANNUALLY.

YOUR CHANCES OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WILL BE REDUCED BY
FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY RULES...

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE
CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. GO TO SAFE
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY...SUCH AS A BUILDING OR CAR.

IF YOU ARE IN A BOAT OR IN THE WATER...GET TO SHORE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE...AND SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES...UNPLUGGING THEM
IF POSSIBLE.

IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS AND NO SHELTER IS NEARBY...FIND A LOW SPOT AWAY
FROM TREES...FENCES...AND POLES. MAKE SURE THE PLACE YOU PICK IS NOT
SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

IF YOU FEEL YOUR SKIN TINGLE OR YOUR HAIR STAND ON END...SQUAT LOW TO
THE GROUND. PLACE YOUR HANDS ON YOUR KNEES WITH YOUR HEAD BETWEEN
THEM. MAKE YOURSELF THE SMALLEST TARGET POSSIBLE...AND MINIMIZE YOUR
CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

TO BE SAFE...WAIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER YOU LAST HEAR THUNDER
TO BEFORE GOING OUTSIDE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP