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NOUS41 KALY 281200
PNSALY
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
800 AM EDT SAT JUN 28 2008
..LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK ENDS TODAY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JOINS WITH STATE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCIES...THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AND THE RED CROSS IN URGING ALL RESIDENTS TO LEARN HOW TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE HAZARDS OF LIGHTNING.
TODAY WE LOOK BACK AT THE KEY POINTS OF LIGHTNING SAFETY
AWARENESS WEEK.
EACH YEAR THERE ARE ABOUT 65000 LIGHTNING STRIKES IN EASTERN NEW
YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. LIGHTNING WILL HIT WITHIN ONE MILE
OF YOUR HOME ABOUT FOUR TIMES PER YEAR. EACH LIGHTNING STRIKE IS
A POTENTIAL KILLER. LAST YEAR...A MAN WAS KILLED IN WATERFORD
NEW YORK BY LIGHTNING. ALREADY THIS MONTH...FOUR PEOPLE WERE
INJURED BY LIGHTNING IN THE NEW PALTZ NEW YORK AREA.
PREVENTION IS THE KEY TO AVOID BEING A LIGHTNING VICTIM. MOST
LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES IN THE UNITED STATES OCCUR DURING
THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE COMBINATION OF LIGHTNING AND OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES REACH A PEAK. IF OUTDOORS...AND A THUNDERSTORM
APPROACHES...TAKE APPROPRIATE SAFETY ACTION. GET INSIDE A STURDY
BUILDING OR AUTOMOBILE IMMEDIATELY.
USE THE 30 30 RULE WHERE VISIBILITY IS GOOD AND THERE IS NOTHING
OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW OF THE THUNDERSTORM. WHEN YOU SEE
LIGHTNING...COUNT THE TIME UNTIL YOU HEAR THUNDER. IF THAT TIME
IS 30 SECONDS OR LESS...THE THUNDERSTORM IS WITHIN SIX MILES OF
YOU AND IS DANGEROUS. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. THE THREAT OF
LIGHTNING CONTINUES FOR MUCH LONGER PERIOD THAN MOST PEOPLE
REALIZE. WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER
BEFORE LEAVING SHELTER. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY SUNSHINE OR BLUE
SKY.
INSIDE HOMES...PEOPLE MUST ALSO AVOID ACTIVITIES WHICH PUT THEIR
LIVES AT RISK FROM A POSSIBLE LIGHTNING STRIKE. AS WITH THE
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES...THESE ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE AVOIDED
BEFORE...DURING...AND AFTER STORMS. IN PARTICULAR...PEOPLE
SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID CONTACT WITH
ANYTHING THAT CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY. PEOPLE MAY ALSO WANT TO TAKE
CERTAIN ACTIONS WELL BEFORE THE STORM TO PROTECT PROPERTY WITHIN
THEIR HOMES...SUCH AS ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
IF A PERSON IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING...SEEK MEDICAL CARE
IMMEDIATELY. CARDIAC ARREST AND IRREGULARITIES...BURNS...AND
NERVE DAMAGE ARE COMMON IN CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. HOWEVER...WITH PROPER TREATMENT...INCLUDING C P R IF
NECESSARY...MOST VICTIMS SURVIVE A LIGHTNING STRIKE.
TAKING STEPS NOW TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THUNDERSTORMS STRIKE
WILL ALLOW YOU TO KEEP SAFE THIS SUMMER...AND ENJOY THE SEASON
IN EASTERN NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.
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.
OKEEFE
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