[HCRA] Field day and Lightning Safety Awareness Week

[et-n1qko at juno.com]

Hello to all....
 
Amateur Radio Field Day is rapidly approaching. Amateur Radio Field Day,
for those on the email list who may not be an Amateur Radio Operator and
not familiar with the event, occurs every year and is where Amateur Radio
Stations get on the air from home, from EOC's, club stations and from
outdoor locations in state parks and at places of elevation etc. to make
as many contacts in a 24 hour period as possible. Field Day begins at 2
PM Saturday June 26th through 2 PM Sunday June 27th with setup starting
either Friday or Saturday Morning and takedown of most setups Sunday
Afternoon and Evening. Field Day is an opportunity for Amateur Radio
Operators to enjoy themselves as well as practice setting up an Amateur
Radio station and staffing it for a full 24 hour period if desired by
groups of Hams or Amateur Radio Clubs.
 
While it is way too early to definitively state the forecast for this
weekend, long range models are hinting at the potential for some
thunderstorm activity this weekend. It is far too early to know what
parts of the region may be impacted, whether or not it will be severe and
whether or not thunderstorms will actually occur. Nonetheless, now is a
good time to review lightning safety rules in case thunderstorms occur
this weekend. In addition, SKYWARN Coordinators and Net Controls that are
not involved in Field Day will be active in offering "SKYWARN Protection
Services" to all Field Day sites in the NWS Taunton County Warning Area.
This includes liaison by either me or designated Amateurs not involved in
Field Day at either NWS Taunton or the SEMARA (Southeast Massachusetts
Amateur Radio Association) if thunderstorms threaten an area. This
includes "garden variety" summer type thunderstorms which pose a threat
to outdoor Field Day sites because of the potential for intense, frequent
lightning.
 
All groups and clubs involved with Field Day and have outdoor setups in
particular are urged to bring a NOAA Weather Radio with them and have a 2
Meter/440 MHz radio on their local SKYWARN repeater. The frequency
listing for SKYWARN Nets can be found at the link below:
 
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo/freq.htm
 
Please note that the list needs to be updated to reflect the fact that
the 146.790-Vernon, CT Repeater is now the primary repeater for SKYWARN
in Hartford and Tolland Counties in CT and the 147.000-Soapstone, CT
Repeater is now a back up to the 146.790-Vernon CT repeater.
 
Field Day falls on the same week as the National Weather Service's
Lightning Safety Awareness Week. This happened last year as well. The
National Weather Serivce Forecast Offices are putting out Public
Information Statements concerning the threat of lightning everyday this
week. In addition, the National Weather Service has a whole web site
dedicated to lightning safety. Below is the link to that web-site:
 
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
 
Another update on Amateur Radio Field Day Weather and Safety Tips will be
posted either late Thursday or Friday with more statements on lightning
safety and updated look at the weather and any potential for
thunderstorms/severe weather for Field Day Weekend. Below is the first
statement on lightning safety awareness week from NWS Taunton:
 
NOUS41 KBOX 211800
PNSBOX
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
157 PM EDT MON JUN 21 2004
 
...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK - PART 1 - LIGHTNING 
SAFETY OUTDOORS...
 
EACH YEAR ABOUT 400 CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE 
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE...AT SPORTS EVENTS...ON 
THE BEACH...MOUNTAIN CLIMBING...MOWING THE LAWN...OR DURING OTHER 
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.  ABOUT 80 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND SEVERAL HUNDRED 
MORE ARE LEFT TO COPE WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES.  MANY OF THESE 
TRAGEDIES CAN BE AVOIDED.  FINISHING THE GAME...GETTING A TAN...OR 
COMPLETING A WORK SHIFT ARE NOT WORTH DEATH OR CRIPPLING INJURY.
 
LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES AS MUCH AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM ANY RAINFALL.  
THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A DOCUMENTED CASE OF LIGHTNING STRIKING 34 MILES 
AWAY FROM THE RAIN IN THE THUNDERSTORM.  AT LEAST 10 PERCENT OF 
LIGHTNING OCCURS WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLOUDS IN THE SKY...JUST BLUE 
SKY.  MANY OF THE LIGHTNING FATALITIES OCCUR AHEAD OF THE STORM 
BECAUSE PEOPLE TRY AND WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE SEEKING 
SHELTER.  YOU ARE IN DANGER IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...THAT MEANS 
THAT LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD STRIKE YOUR LOCATION AT 
ANY MOMENT.
 
ON AVERAGE 20 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS DIE...80 PERCENT 
SURVIVE BUT 70 PERCENT OF THEM SUFFER SERIOUS LONG-TERM EFFECTS.
 
HERE ARE SOME SAFETY RULES...MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE 
ON THE WEB AT WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV 
 
1. POSTPONE ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY AND DON/T WAIT FOR THE RAIN.  GO 
QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING...NOT A CARPORT...OPEN 
GARAGE...OR COVERED PATIO.  IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS AVAILABLE...
GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE.  THE STEEL FRAME OF THE 
VEHICLE PROVIDES PROTECTION IF YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING METAL.
 
2. BE THE LOWEST POINT.  LIGHTNING LIKES TO STRIKE THE TALLEST 
OBJECTS.  IF HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ABOVE THE TREELINE...YOU 
ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT.  QUICKLY GET BELOW TREELINE AND GET INTO A 
GROVE OF SMALL TREES.  ASIDE FROM THIS SITUATION HOWEVER...YOU 
SHOULD AVOID TREES.  IF YOU ARE IN AN OPEN FIELD...LIKE A FARM OR A 
BASEBALL OR SOCCER FIELD...YOU ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT.  DUGOUTS OR 
GAZEBOS AFFORD LITTLE PROTECTION.  IF YOU CANNOT GET TO AN ENCLOSED 
BUILDING OR VEHICLE...CROUCH DOWN ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET.
 
3. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY FOR DARKENING CLOUDS AND LISTEN FOR 
THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT...GO TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
 
4. GET OFF BICYCLES...MOTORCYCLES...AND DO NOT LEAN ON VEHICLES.
 
5. WATER IS A GREAT CONDUCTER OF ELECTRICITY.  GET OUT OF THE WATER 
IF BOATING OR SWIMMING.  GET OFF THE BEACH.  DO NOT STAND IN 
PUDDLES...EVEN IF WEARING RUBBER BOOTS.  
 
6. AVOID METAL. DO NOT HOLD GOLF CLUBS...FISHING RODS...TENNIS 
RACQUETS...OR TOOLS.  LARGE METAL OBJECTS CAN CONDUCT LIGHTNING.  
SMALL METAL OBJECTS...SUCH AS BELT BUCKLES...CAN CAUSE BURNS.  
 
7. STAY SEVERAL YARDS AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.  DO NOT SHARE A 
BLEACHER BENCH OR HUDDLE IN A GROUP.
 
8. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS 
ARE IN THE FORECAST.  NEXT TO HEAR ANY SHORT TERM FORECASTS ABOUT 
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.  ALSO...TO HEAR IF THE WARNING ALARM TONE IS 
ACTIVATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND 
LARGE HAIL IN ADDITION TO LIGHTNING STRIKES.
 
$$
GAF

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SAMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator