Subj : Public Info Statement
To : ALL
From : Daryl_Stout
Date : Fri Jun 24 2016 12:12 am
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
600 AM CDT FRI JUN 24 2016
...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...
The National Weather Service has declared the week of June
19th through the 25th as LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. This
is the last of five public information statements to be issued
by the National Weather Service office in Little Rock
containing details about lightning.
Today's topic is LIGHTNING SAFETY AROUND THE HOME.
Although houses and other substantial buildings offer the
best protection from lightning, many homes across the United
States are struck by lightning. In fact, on average, lightning
causes 4,000 to 5,000 house fires each year. In recent years,
home insurance claims for lightning were generally between
$600 million and $1 billion.
There are three main ways lightning enters homes and
buildings: (1) a direct strike, (2) through wires or pipes
that extend outside the structure, and (3) through the
ground. Once in a structure, the lightning can travel through
the electrical and phone wires, the plumbing, and radio and
television reception systems.
Indoor safety depends on avoiding contact with items that
are vulnerable to lightning within the home. Here are some
indoor safety tips to follow when a thunderstorm is in
the area:
- Do not touch electrical equipment or plug/unplug cords.
- Stay off corded phones.
- Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take
a shower, wash dishes, or do laundry.
Also, do not forget your pets. Dog houses are not safe
shelters. Dogs that are chained to trees or on metal runners
are vulnerable to lightning strikes.
Question: What are lightning rods and how do they work?
Answer: Lightning rods protect a home from a direct lightning
strike, but they do not prevent a home from being struck. They
are designed to intercept lightning, to provide a conductive path
for the harmful electrical discharge to follow, and to disperse
the energy safely into the ground.
Please note: While lightning rods are used as safeguards
against direct lightning strikes, a complete lightning protection
system may be more effective. This includes electrical
surge protection devices for incoming power, data, communication
lines, and vulnerable appliances. Lightning protection may also
be needed for gas pipes.
&&
This week is headlined on the local National Weather Service website
at WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK/.
$$
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