[HCRA] Fw: Severe Weather Coordination Message #1/Amateur Radio
Field Day and Weather Safety Tips Update #2
et-n1qko at juno.com
et-n1qko at juno.com
Thu Jun 24 21:42:36 EDT 2004
Eric Tuller N1QKO
flash floods+warlords+winter storms+callisto+tornados
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.....AMATEUR RADIO !!
earthquakes+monsters+hurricanes+evil gods+public service
CT+ MD+ VT+ Stockwood + King Richards Ren Faires
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rob Macedo" <rmacedo at rcn.com>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 08:05:50 -0400
Subject: Severe Weather Coordination Message #1/Amateur Radio Field Day
and Weather Safety Tips Update #2
Message-ID: <000d01c459e3$f7f31dd0$0b00a8c0 at oemcomputer>
Hello to all....
....SPC has much of Southern New England in a Slight Risk for Severe
Weather
for Friday with Damaging Winds and Large Hail the primary threats. This
threat is conditional on the amount of heating that can take place on
Friday....
....Amateur Radio Field Day Sites that are Expecting to Setup Their
Stations
on Friday Should Monitor Later Forecasts and Statements and be prepared
to
take shelter immediately if Thunderstorms Approach their Field Day Site.
Amateurs should monitor their Local SKYWARN Repeater and the NOAA
All-Hazards Radio for any watch/warning information....
....Some form of SKYWARN Activation is possible on Friday pending future
model runs on the possible event for Friday.....
....After Friday, the weather for Field Day should be spectacular with
little or no threat of thunderstorms on Saturday and no threat of
thunderstorms on Sunday. This will be updated based on future model
runs....
The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of Southern New England in a
Slight Risk of Severe Weather with damaging winds and large hail the
primary
threats. Earlier model runs did not have very good destablization or
instability parameters as the models are showing some level of clouds
over
the region but the latest 6z run of the Meso-ETA model showed increasing
instability parameters and this will have to be monitored. If enough
sunshine can occur, wind fields and other parameters are favorable for
strong to severe thunderstorms over a good portion of Southern New
England,
particularly away from the immediate coastal areas.
Even if thunderstorms do not become severe, all thunderstorms present the
potential for dangerous lightning. People setting up Field Day sites
should
be prepared to take shelter immediately if any type of thunderstorm
approaches. The threat for severe weather only adds to the danger.
Amateur
Radio Operators that are setting up their Field Day sites are urged to
monitor their local SKYWARN repeater as well as bring a NOAA All-Hazards
Radio for any pertinent watch/warning information.
Depending on future model runs, some form of SKYWARN Activation is
possible
on Friday. Ops at NWS Taunton maybe brought in even if its an isolated
threat to protect those Amateurs are setting up their Field Day sites on
Friday. Further details will follow in an evening update.
After Friday, the weather for Field Day should be spectacular with dry
weather for most if not the entire weekend. We are monitoring trends with
the cold front and any upper level disturbance that might cause some
shower
and/or thunderstorm development but right now the forecast for Saturday
should be dry and pleasant. Sunday will also be dry over much of the
region.
Another update will be posted by 11:30 PM this evening. Below is the
following information:
1.) SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook and NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather
Outlook
on Friday's severe weather threat.
2.) Original Field Day memo from Monday updated with lightning safety
awareness week statements through Wednesday.
SPC AC 240739
DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0239 AM CDT THU JUN 24 2004
VALID 251200Z - 261200Z
...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS FROM NC AND THE MID ATLANTIC
STATES INTO SRN NEW ENG...
...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER THE CNTRL AND SRN HI
PLNS...
...SYNOPSIS...
DEEP VORTEX NEAR JAMES BAY WILL MAINTAIN FAST CYCLONIC FLOW ACROSS
THE NRN AND ERN U.S. THIS PERIOD AS THE SYSTEM EDGES SLOWLY E INTO
QUEBEC. A SERIES OF LOW AMPLITUDE IMPULSES ROTATING AROUND WRN AND
SRN PERIPHERY OF THE LOW WILL GLANCE THE UPR MS VLY AND GRT LKS
REGION THROUGH THE PERIOD. WITH BLOCK OVER NRN CANADA CONTINUING TO
RETROGRESS W AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING RIDGE OVER YUKON...THERE WILL
LIKELY BE INCREASED WLY FLOW OVER THE NRN GRT BASIN/PACIFIC NW.
ELSEWHERE...WEAKER SRN STREAM JET WITH EMBEDDED DISTURBANCES
EXPECTED TO PERSIST FROM THE CNTRL GULF CST TO THE CAROLINA CST.
FARTHER W...WEAK WLYS AND SLIGHT RIDGING OVER AZ SHOULD RESULT IN
DEVELOPMENT OF A DIFFUSE UPPER LOW OVER THE SRN PLNS.
...NC/MID ATLANTIC STATES TO SRN NEW ENG...
COLD FRONT WHICH WILL CROSS THE GRT LKS/OH VLY LATER TODAY WILL
CONTINUE E/SE ACROSS NEW ENG AND THE MID ATLANTIC STATES ON FRIDAY.
THE FRONT SHOULD DECELERATE AND SLOWLY WEAKEN WITH TIME AS MAIN
SUPPORTING IMPULSE CONTINUES NEWD INTO CANADA...AND BOUNDARY BECOMES
PARALLEL TO DEEP WSWLY MEAN FLOW. THE FRONT
WILL...NEVERTHELESS...LIKELY SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR DIURNAL-ENHANCED
STORM DEVELOPMENT OVER PA/SERN NY AND SRN NEW ENGLAND.
LOW TO MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL BE MODEST /AROUND 6.5 TO 7.0 DEG C
PER KM/...AND CLOUDS MAY LIMIT SURFACE HEATING...ESPECIALLY IN NEW
ENG. BUT COMBINED WITH 40-50 KT DEEP UNIDIRECTIONAL WSWLY SHEAR AND
SUSTAINED CONVERGENCE...SETUP SHOULD SUPPORT A FEW BANDS/CLUSTERS OF
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS AND POSSIBLY A FEW SUPERCELLS WITH HIGH WIND
AND MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL.
..CORFIDI.. 06/24/2004
...NOTICE...
FOR USERS DECODING THE POINTS PARAGRAPH HEREIN...LATITUDE AND
LONGITUDE POINTS FOR THE CATEGORICAL AND PROBABILISTIC OUTLOOK
GRAPHICS ALSO ARE LOCATED IN A SEPARATE PRODUCT UNDER THE WMO
HEADINGS WUUS01 PTSDY1...WUUS02 PTSDY2...AND WUUS03 PTSDY3. THE
INCLUSION OF POINTS IN THIS PRODUCT WILL EVENTUALLY BE DISCONTINUED.
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED FOR 1730Z
FLUS41 KBOX 241059
HWOBOX
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
655 AM EDT THU JUN 24 2004
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-251100-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
655 AM EDT THU JUN 24 2004
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT...MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...SOUTHWEST NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND.
.DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY)...
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY
NIGHT.
OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.
.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.
THIS PRODUCT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEB SITE...WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ER/BOX
$$
EVT
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.
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
Below are the first three statements 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
NOUS41 KBOX 221740
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
140 PM EDT TUE JUN 22 2004
...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK - PART 2 -
THE SCIENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE...
AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THERE ARE 1800 THUNDERSTORMS IN PROGRESS
SOMEHWERE ON THE EARTH...WHICH AMOUNTS TO 16 MILLION THUNDERSTORMS
EACH YEAR! LIGHTNING RESEARCHERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TODAY
OF THE PROCESS THAT PRODUCES LIGHTNING...BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO
LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOLAR FLARES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE...THE
EARTH/S ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD...AND ICE IN STORMS. WE KNOW THE
CLOUD CONDITIONS NEEDED TO PRODUCE LIGHTNING BUT CANNOT FORECAST THE
LOCATION OR TIME OF THE NEXT STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
LIGHTNING OCCURS IN VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS...INTENSE FOREST FIRES...
SURFACE NUCLEAR DETONATIONS...HEAVY SNOWSTORMS...AND LARGE
HURRICANES...BUT IT IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS FORM IN AIR THAT IS MOIST...UNSTABLE...AND HAS A
TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THE AIR TO RISE...SUCH AS A COLD FRONT. RISING
MOTIONS IN THE STORM BUILD THE CLOUD TO AS HIGH AS 6 TO 10 MILES
ABOVE SEA LEVEL. ICE FORMS IN THE HIGHER PARTS OF THE CLOUD.
THE ICE PARTICLES VARY FROM SMALL ICE CRYSTALS TO LARGE HAILSTONES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COLLISIONS BETWEEN THE PARTICLES WHICH CAUSES A
SEPARATION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES. POSITIVELY CHARGED ICE CRYSTALS
RISE TO THE TOP OF THE STORM AND NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES AND
HAILSTONES DROP TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER PARTS OF THE STORM.
ENORMOUS CHARGE DIFFERENCES DEVELOP.
A MOVING THUNDERSTORM GATHERS ANOTHER POOL OF POSITIVELY CHARGED
PARTICLES ALONG THE GROUND THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STORM. POSITIVELY
CHARGED PARTICLES RISE UP TALLER OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES...HOUSES...
AND TELEPHONE POLES. THE PARTICLES CAN EVEN MOVE UP YOU...HAVE YOU
EVER BEEN UNDER A THUNDERSTORM AND HAD YOUR HAIR STAND UP? IF SO...
YOU MAY BE THE LIGHTNING TARGET.
THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA IN THE STORM SENDS OUT A CHARGE TOWARD
THE GROUND CALLED A STEPPED LEADER. IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN
EYE. WHEN IT GETS CLOSE TO THE GROUND...IT IS ATTRACTED BY ALL OF
THESE POSITIVELY CHARGED OBJECTS AND A CHANNEL DEVELOPS. YOU SEE
THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER IN THIS CHANNEL AS LIGHTNING. THERE MAY BE
SEVERAL RETURN STROKES OF ELECTRICITY WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED CHANNEL
THAT YOU WILL SEE AS FLICKERING LIGHTNING. THE LIGHTNING CHANNEL
HEATS RAPIDLY TO 30,000 DEGREES OR MORE AND THE RAPID EXPANSION OF
HEATED AIR CAUSES THE THUNDER. SINCE LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN
SOUND IN THE ATMOSPHERE...THE SOUND IS HEARD AFTER THE LIGHTNING.
IF YOU SEE LIGHTNING AND HEAR THUNDER AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME...THE
LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
NOT ALL LIGHTNING FORMS IN THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA LOW IN THE
THUNDERSTORM CLOUD. SOME ORIGINATES IN THE CIRRUS ANVIL AT THE TOP
OF THE STORM WHERE THERE IS A LARGE POSITIVE CHARGE. A STRIKE
ORIGINATING IN THIS AREA IS CALLED A POSITIVE FLASH. IT IS
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS. IT FREQUENTLY STRIKES
AHEAD OF OR BEHIND A THUNDERSTORM...AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA...THUS
CATCHING PEOPLE BY SURPRISE...LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. POSITIVE
STRIKES TYPICALLY LAST LONGER...SO FIRES ARE MORE EASILY IGNITED.
ALSO...THEY USUALLY CARRY A HIGH PEAK ELECTRICAL CURRENT WHICH
INCREASES THE LIGHTNING RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
$$
FIELD
NOUS41 KBOX 231833
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
230 PM EDT WED JUN 23 2004
...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK - PART THREE -
MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING...
THE UNITED STATES AVERAGES 73 REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS PER
YEAR...WHICH MAKES IT THE SECOND LARGEST STORM RELATED
KILLER...EXCEEDED ONLY BY FLASH FLOODS. A LIGHTNING STRIKE CAN
RESULT IN CARDIAC ARREST AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY...BUT SOME DEATHS
CAN OCCUR A FEW DAYS LATER IF THE PERSON IS RESUSCITATED BUT
SUFFERED IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. BECAUSE THIS MAY OCCUR DAYS
LATER...THE NEWS STORY MAY NOT MAKE THE NEWSPAPER OR OTHER MEDIA
OUTLETS. THUS...THERE IS AN UNDER REPORTING OF INJURIES AND DEATHS
FROM LIGHTNING. THE FIGURES MORE REALISTICALLY ARE ABOUT 100 DEATHS
PER YEAR NATIONWIDE.
HOW DO LIGHTNING INJURIES AFFECT PEOPLE? LIGHTNING TENDS TO BE A
NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY AND MAY AFFECT THE BRAIN AND BOTH AUTONOMIC
AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS. WHEN THE BRAIN IS AFFECTED...THE
PERSON OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY WITH SHORT-TERM MEMORY...MULTI-TASKING...
AND CAN BE IRRITABLE...EASILY DISTRACTED...AND HAVE A PERSONALITY
CHANGE. SURVIVORS INITIALLY MAY COMPLAIN OF INTENSE HEADACHES...
RINGING IN THE EARS...DIZZINESS...NAUSEA...VOMITING...OR OTHER
POST-CONCUSSION TYPES OF SYMPTOMS. IRREGULAR SLEEP PATTERNS MAY
OCCUR. SEIZURE-LIKE ACTIVITY MAY OCCUR WEEKS TO MONTHS AFTER THE
INJURY.
PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP AFTER THE INJURY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
EXPRESS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND MAY BECOME EMBARRASSED WHEN THEY
CANNOT CARRY ON A CONVERSATION. AS A RESULT THEY MAY ISOLATE
THEMSELVES AND BECOME EASY TO ANGER. DEPRESSION BECOMES A BIG
PROBLEM. SURVIVORS OFTEN BECOME EXHAUSTED AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS OF
WORK AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED JOB TASKS.
ANOTHER COMMON...OFTEN DELAYED...PROBLEM FOR SOME SURVIVORS IS
INTENSE PAIN. THE PAIN MAY NOT BE FROM HEADACHES BUT IN THE
BACK...PERHAPS FROM COMPRESSION AND DISC INJURY FROM THE INTENSE
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS WHICH MAY THROW A PERSON SEVERAL YARDS AT THE
TIME OF THE INJURY. THE PAIN MAY ALSO OCCUR IN AN EXTREMITY...AS
NERVES BEGIN TO SLOWLY REGENERATE. DECREASED LIBIDO AND IMPOTENCE
OFTEN ARE REPORTED.
ANATOMIC TESTING...SUCH AS AN X-RAY...CT SCAN...MRI...OR BLOOD TEST
OFTEN SHOWS UP AS NORMAL. SOMETIMES FUNCTIONAL TESTS ORDERED ARE
TESTING THE WRONG THING. AN ELECTROMYOGRAM...OR EMG...MEASURES ONLY
THE MOTOR FIBERS...WHICH ARE SELDOM AFFECTED BY LIGHTNING INJURY.
SMALLER PAIN CARRYING NERVE FIBERS ARE NOT TESTED BY EMG. THUS A
NORMAL EMG RESULT CAN MEAN LITTLE FOR SOMEONE WITH PAIN. LIKEWISE...
THE STANDARD EEG PRIMARILY MEASURES SURFACE READINGS OF THE BRAIN
AND MISSES SEIZURE ACTIVITY IN SEVERAL DEEPER REGIONS.
MORE USEFUL IS A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF HOW A PERSON/S BRAIN IS
WORKING...NEUROCOGNITIVE OR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. THESE TESTS
ARE ADMINISTERED BY A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST FAMILIAR WITH LITERATURE IN
THIS AREA...NOT BY A PSYCHIATRIST. THESE ARE PEN AND PAPER TESTS
LASTING 6 TO 8 HOURS AND TEST MEMORY...IQ...ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY...
ETC. LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS USUALLY HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC
PATTERN OF DEFICITS.
HELP DOES EXIST FOR LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS AND PHYSICIANS
ALIKE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB...GO TO
WWW.LIGHTNING-STRIKE.ORG OR CALL 1-910-346-4708.
$$
FIELD
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SAMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo at rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
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