NWS Update – Lightening Safety Week June 20-26, 2010

Just a heads up that *next week, June 20-26, is National Lightning Safety Week*. Already in NC this year we have seen one person killed by lightning in the mountains, a few injuries in Central NC, a large tank fire in Greensboro, a church burned down in Wilson, a boat destroyed on Jordan Lake and many other homes damaged all from lightning. The National Weather Service has an outstanding Lightning Safety Webpage
(http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/index.htm) which provides a lot of detailed information ranging from the science of lightning strikes, survivor stories and resources for local communities as well as the media.


Please take a moment to pass along to others the dangers of lightning and how preventable lightning related injuries and fatalities really area. Lightning is the underrated killer and we are just now starting to move into the time of year where lightning intensity can be rather dangerous combined with the increase in outdoor recreational activities, farming and outdoor related work.


Once again the Lightning Safety Website can be found at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/index.htm. All resources online are there for your use including planning guides, PSAs, Posters, games for kids and more. Please help up to spread the word and about lightning safety.


Information provided by Jeff Orrock
National Weather Service