[HCRA] Field day Message From KD1CY

Thu Jun 22 18:23:44 EDT 2006

 Eric Tuller   N1QKO
Assistant SKYWARN Coordinator for W.MA.    Ware Emergency Management
Emergency Coordinator for the MTARA.  KB1HGK   Radio Operators for
Missing Children
CT+ MD+ VT+ Stockwood + King Richards  Ren Faires

Hello to all….

....The following is the first in a series of weather coordination
messages for Amateur Radio Field Day. For Non-Amateurs, a description of
Amateur Radio Field Day is in the first paragraph of this coordination
message....

….Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend appears to have multiple significant
weather threats with the potential for severe weather and heavy rainfall
on Friday and the potential for flooding and thunderstorms with their
attendant lightning threat over parts of the region during parts of the
weekend….

....Amateurs are urged to follow safety instructions for lightning and
for severe thunderstorms should they occur during Field Day and Field Day
setup and they should also follow safety instructions for flooding if
their site is located near a river/stream or low-lying area. SKYWARN
Coordinators will guard Field Day sites from significant weather this
weekend and monitor local SKYWARN repeaters to provide support and
coordination if thunderstorms threaten. In addition, the potential exists
for SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton to support reporting for
severe thunderstorms and flooding this weekend as required and Ops at NWS
Taunton will be utilized to guard and protect Field Day sites....

For the non-Amateur Radio Operators on the email list, Amateur Radio
Field Day occurs on the 4th weekend of June every year and is a time
where local Amateur Radio Clubs and individual Amateurs across the United
States set up Amateur Radio stations across the region and work other
Amateurs in a 24 hour contest that practices some radio operator skills,
practices setup of Amateur Equipment in the field at various locations
for the Amateurs who elect to setup equipment versus operating their home
or pre-installed club stations and is an overall fun event that Amateurs
enjoy. The field stations put on by Amateur Radio Clubs and other groups
allows the public to see Amateur Radio Operators perform their duties in
a fun atmosphere. Any non-Amateurs in Eastern Massachusetts and
Connecticut, that are interested in visiting the various Field Day sites
can see a map of the sites that are open to the public via the following
links:

http://ema.arrl.org/fd/fd_dir.php

http://www.arrl.org/sections/CT.html#FD

At this time, I do not have links to Field Day sites in other parts of
the NWS Taunton County Warning Area. Those that have links to their Field
Day can pass them along to me and I can add them to the next coordination
message.

Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend appears to have multiple significant
weather threats that will commence starting tomorrow, when many Amateur
Radio Clubs begin setup of their Field Day sites. For Friday, the
potential exists for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, isolated
large hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall. Remember, just a
garden variety thunderstorm with a lot of lightning is a significant
threat to an outdoor Field Day site even though it is not severe by NWS
definitions. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is likely Friday
to cover this threat and get reporting from the various areas and also to
guard and protect Field Day sites that may be doing setup on Friday.
Further details on the severe threat for Friday will follow in later
coordination messages.

As we move into later Friday Night and Saturday, the severe weather
concerns for the event will wane and will evolve into a heavy
rainfall/flood threat with embedded thunderstorms posing its attendent
lightning risk for the region. Model forecasts for 3” or more of rain
over the period from Friday into Sunday and higher amounts are possible.
NWS Taunton has issued a Hydologic Outlook which is its precursor outlook
before issuing a Flood Watch. This threat needs to be monitored very
closely. If your Field Day site is near a river or stream, extreme
caution is advised and plans should be made to move to higher ground if
heavy rainfall causes flooding. In addition, there will be the threat for
frequent lightning in any thunderstorms and will pose a significant risk
to Field Day sites if the threat for heavy rainfall and embedded
thunderstorms materializes as expected. Field Day sites are urged to
monitor their local SKYWARN repeater and to bring a NOAA Weather Radio to
their Field Day site. Further details on the heavy
rainfall/flood/embedded thunderstorm threat for Field Day will follow in
later coordination messages.

Field Day weekend is still 2+ days away though setup for some Field Day
sites is about 24-36 hours away. All Amateurs involved with Field Day
should closely monitor the weather over this period as things could
change over the next day or two. To reiterate, all Field Day sites should
attempt to monitor their local SKYWARN Repeater for updates on the
situation and if possible bring a NOAA Weather Radio to their Field Day
site. SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators who are SKYWARN
Spotters should prepare for the potential of several activations over the
next several days and again Ops at NWS Taunton will be deployed quickly
to help support and protect Amateur Radio Field Day operations as well as
to provide reports into NWS Taunton for the protection of life and
property.

As has happened in year's past, Field Day is occurring near the time of
the National Weather Service's Lightning Safety Awareness Week. A link to
the NWS web site dedicated to the hazards of lightning is listed below:

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

In addition, Eastern Massachusetts ARRL has posted some of the safety
messages from Field Day from last year to the web and that information
can be seen at the following link and will probably be updated with new
information from this email. See link below:

http://ema.arrl.org/fd/Safety.html

This year, NWS Taunton has not posted Public Information Statements from
Lightning Safety Awareness Week so 3 of the 5 statements posted last year
have been posted into this email. Also, the NWS Taunton Hydrologic
Outlook and Hazardous Weather Outlook have been posted to this email.

The next Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message will
be posted by 1130 PM this evening. Below are the NWS Taunton Hazardous
Weather Outlook, Hydrologic Outlook, and last year’s Public Information
Statements from Lightning Safety Awareness Week:

FLUS41 KBOX 221113

HWOBOX

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

713 AM EDT THU JUN 22 2006

ANZ230>237-250-254-255-CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-

RIZ001>008-231056-

BARNSTABLE-BLOCK ISLAND-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND-BOSTON HARBOR-BRISTOL-

BUZZARDS BAY-CAPE COD BAY-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY-CHESHIRE-

COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT 25 NM TO PLYMOUTH MA OUT

40 NM-

COASTAL WATERS FROM NANTUCKET MA TO MARTHAS VINEYARD MA TO BLOCK

ISLAND RI TO MONTAUK NY SOUTHEAST TO 20NM-

COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA

OUT 20 NM-DUKES-EASTERN ESSEX-EASTERN FRANKLIN-EASTERN HAMPDEN-

EASTERN HAMPSHIRE-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH-EASTERN KENT-EASTERN NORFOLK-

EASTERN PLYMOUTH-HARTFORD-NANTUCKET-NANTUCKET SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-

NEWPORT-NORTHERN BRISTOL-NORTHERN WORCESTER-

NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-

SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE-SOUTHERN BRISTOL-

SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH-SOUTHERN WORCESTER-SUFFOLK-TOLLAND-VINEYARD SOUND-

WASHINGTON-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH-WESTERN ESSEX-

WESTERN FRANKLIN-WESTERN HAMPDEN-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE-WESTERN KENT-

WESTERN NORFOLK-WESTERN PLYMOUTH-WINDHAM-

713 AM EDT THU JUN 22 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN

CONNECTICUT...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

AND RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS /WET MICROBURSTS WITH DAMAGING WIND

AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES/ ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

MAINLY IN THE INTERIOR OF MASSACHUSETTS.

OTHERWISE...PERIODS OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND ISOLATED EMBEDDED

THUNDERSTORMS MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OF STREAMS AND URBAN

AREAS IN PARTS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE FRIDAY THROUGH THIS

WEEKEND.

A HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK STATEMENT HAS BEEN POSTED. THIS IS USUALLY THE

FIRST STEP PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF ANY FLOOD WATCH...WHICH ONLY WOULD BE

ISSUED IF FORECASTERS BECOME MORE CONFIDENT OF RAINS REACHING THE

VALUES STATED IN THIS OUTLOOK STATEMENT.

IF THE CONVEYOR BELT OF MOISTURE HOLDS FIRM OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND

MONDAY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK...FLOODING RAINS WOULD BE

POSSIBLE THEN AS WELL...THOUGH MORE LIKELY TO SHIFT NORTHWESTWARD

INTO THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY.

AT THIS TIME...THE 4 DAY PERIOD BETWEEN NOON FRIDAY AND NOON TUESDAY

SHOULD SEE AT LEAST ISOLATED 5 INCH RAIN TOTALS.

ALL HYDROLOGIC RELATED MANAGERS SHOULD MONITOR THIS SITUATION

CAREFULLY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND FOR

A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND POSSIBLE FLOOD RELATED RAINS.

$$

DRAG

FGUS71 KBOX 221049

ESFBOX

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-222100-

HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

649 AM EDT THU JUN 22 2006

...HEAVY RAINS IN PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND FROM LATE FRIDAY
THROUGH

THIS WEEKEND MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...

ALL WATER RELATED CONCERNS SHOULD MONITOR FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS ISSUED

LATE TODAY THROUGH THIS COMING WEEKEND.

WHILE SCATTERED SHOWERS INTRODUCE HUMIDITY BACK INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
THIS

AFTERNOON...THE PRIMARY SHOW FOR HEAVY RAIN BEGINS FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

AND CONTINUES WITH SEVERAL EPISODES OF HEAVY RAINS LIKELY THIS WEEKEND.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO PRODUCE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN

AN HOURS TIME AND CAUSE POOR DRAINAGE STREET FLOODING.

IF STRONG STORMS REPEATEDLY MOVE OVER THE SAME AREA...FLOODING WOULD

BE POSSIBLE.

THERE IS STILL UNCERTAINTY WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL OCCUR...HOW MUCH

AND THE DURATION OF THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL. 

CURRENTLY THE TARGET FOR HEAVIEST RAIN THROUGH THIS WEEKEND IS THE

MASS PIKE REGION SOUTHWARD TO THE SOUTH COASTS OF RHODE ISLAND AND

MASSACHUSETTS.

IF THE HUMID UNSETTLED PATTERN CONTINUES EARLY NEXT WEEK... THE HEAVIER

RAINS MAY SHIFT WELL INLAND AND AWAY FROM THE COAST.

THREE INCHES OF RAIN IN 3 HOURS AND 4 INCHES IN 24 HOURS THIS WEEKEND
WOULD

PROBABLY CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS IN NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND
PARTS

OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

IF FORECASTERS BECOME MORE CONFIDENT THAT THESE THRESHOLD VALUES WILL

BE EXCEEDED THEN A FLOOD WATCH WOULD BE ISSUED FOR FRIDAY OR SATURDAY.

PLEASE MONITOR UPDATED STATEMENTS LATE TODAY.

$$

DRAG

NOUS41 KBOX 221712

PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

110 PM EDT WED JUN 22 2005

...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
SHOW 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

NOUS41 KBOX 211540

PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

1140 AM EDT TUE JUN 21 2005

...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...

...PART TWO - 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 201402

PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

1000 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2005

...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...

...PART ONE - 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 20 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
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 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 LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES.

1. POSTPONE ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY AND DO NOT 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 TREE LINE...YOU ARE THE TALLEST
OBJECT.  QUICKLY GET BELOW TREE LINE 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 OF BICYCLES AND MOTORCYCLES.  DO NOT LEAN ON VEHICLES.

5. WATER IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR 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 OR
BENCH OR HUDDLE IN A GROUP.

8. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.  FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE
IN THE FORECAST.  NEXT...LISTEN TO HEAR ANY SHORT TERM FORECASTS ABOUT
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.  ALSO...LISTEN TO HEAR IF THE WARNING ALARM TONE
HAS BEEN ACTIVATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN YOUR AREA...WHICH PRODUCE
DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL IN ADDITION TO LIGHTNING STRIKES.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT
WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV .

$$

GAF

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section 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