[HCRA] FW: Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Coordination Message
#1
Daniel Sullivan
djs13 at hotmail.com
Fri Jun 22 09:09:04 EDT 2007
----Original Message Follows----
From: "SkyWarn Announcement List" <SkyWarn-list at oak.powersrvcs.net>
Reply-To: rmacedo at rcn.com
To: <Skywarn-list at oak.powersrvcs.net>
Subject: Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Coordination Message #1
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:09:35 -0400
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 looks to have excellent weather for most
of the event with some chance for strong to severe thunderstorms for Field
Day sites setting up on Friday Afternoon and Taking Down their setups Sunday
Afternoon..
...Temperatures should be quite comfortable to a bit warm during the period
but nothing terrible threatening as far as heat. Nonetheless, Amateur Radio
Operators in the field are reminded to drink plenty of liquids and dress
properly for the weather conditions..
.....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 Friday
Afternoon and again Sunday Afternoon as needed for SKYWARN reporting and 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.
The majority of Field Day weekend is looking good weather wise but there
will be a couple of strong to possibly severe thunderstorm episodes to
contend with for anyone setting up Field Day sites Friday and possibly for
take down of Field Day sites Sunday Afternoon possibly affecting the last
couple of hours of Field Day operation Sunday. For today, strong
thunderstorms similar to Thursday may develop over the region with the
potential for strong winds and small hail with isolated large hail or wind
damage also possible. Any thunderstorms contain the risk of lightning and
heavy rain. Please follow thunderstorm safety tips if threatening weather
approaches your area. If required, SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS
Taunton will be utilized for reporting on the thunderstorms and to protect
Field Day sites from any serious issues.
Saturday will be an excellent day with temperatures in the 70's and low
humidity and dry conditions. These conditions will last through Sunday
Morning. As we get towards Sunday Afternoon, another round of strong to
possibly severe thunderstorms could affect portions of Southern New England.
This could affect the last couple of hours of Field Day and take down of
Field Day sites Sunday Afternoon. Further details on the impact of strong to
possibly severe thunderstorms for Sunday will be discussed in future
coordination messages.
Despite these two possible strong to possibly severe thunderstorm events for
Field Day Setup and Field Day take down, the weather for Field Day is
looking the best its looked in several years with mostly cool conditions and
mostly dry weather. Get out there and enjoy Field Day weekend!
The following is a link to SKYWARN Frequencies that we will be roving at NWS
Taunton and formal SKYWARN Nets established where required.
http://www.wx1box.org <http://www.wx1box.org/> and click on Southern New
England SKYWARN Frequency List.
In addition, the New England Gateway/Reflector system will be utilized so
those with Internet access or access to an EchoLink/IRLP node via a repeater
or other system may also be able to gain access to NWS Taunton when we are
active via this means by connecting to IRLP Reflector 9123/EchoLink Node
#:9123 which is the *NEW-ENG* conference server.
As has happened in year's past, Field Day is occurring near the time of the
National Weather Service's Lightning Safety Awareness Week but this year it
falls after Field Day weekend. 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/Safety.html
This year, Lightning Safety Awareness Week falls after Field Day so 3 of the
5 statements posted from 2005 have been posted into this email. Also, the
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook has been posted to this email.
The next complete Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination
Message will be posted by 1100 AM Saturday Morning. A short message on
SKYWARN Activation status will be posted if time allows and Ops at NWS
Taunton are initiated for today. Below are the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather
Outlook, and the 2005 Public Information Statements from Lightning Safety
Awareness Week:
000
FLUS41 KBOX 220841
HWOBOX
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
441 AM EDT FRI JUN 22 2007
ANZ230>237-250-254-255-CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-
RIZ001>008-230845-
BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-
BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT 25 NM TO PLYMOUTH MA OUT
40 NM...INCLUDING THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA
OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO BLOCK ISLAND RI TO MARTHAS
VINEYARD MA TO NANTUCKET MA SOUTHEAST TO 20 NM-HARTFORD CT-
TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-
EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-
WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-
EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
441 AM EDT FRI JUN 22 2007
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT...MASSACHUSETTS...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEAST
MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL
WATERS...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND...SOUTHERN
RHODE ISLAND AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS.
..DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FROM MONADNOCKS AND WORCESTER HILLS
EASTWARD TO THE ENTIRE MASSACHUSETTS COAST THIS AFTERNOON. GUSTY
NORTHWEST WINDS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE EXPECTED....PROBABLY AS
MANY REPORTS AS LAST EVENING...EXCEPT CENTERED CLOSER TO THE BOSTON
AREA.
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD START IN THE MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE
TO NEWBURYPORT REGION OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND EXTREME NORTHEAST
MASSACHUSETTS AROUND 1 PM AND EXPAND SOUTHWARD INTO CLUSTERS OF
THUNDERSTORMS...BEING MOST INTENSE BETWEEN 330 PM AND 630 PM IN THE
WORCESTER TO BOSTON CORRIDOR...FINALLY DYING OUT THIS EVENING AROUND
8 PM NEAR CAPE COD. THIS WILL BE A DISTINCT HAZARD TO SMALL CRAFT
MARINERS FOR WIND...AND A LIGHTNING HAZARD FOR ALL WHO ARE OUTDOORS
ALONG THE MASSACHUSETTS COAST DURING MID AND LATE AFTERNOON.
..DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. BESIDES THE LIGHTNING HAZARD...A FEW OF THESE COULD PRODUCE
STRONG WIND GUSTS.
TEMPERATURES WILL REACH THE LOW AND MID 90S TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY BUT
HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD BE LOW ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE HEAT ADVISORIES FROM
BEING ISSUED. HOWEVER IF DEW POINT TEMPERATURES ARE 5 DEGREES HIGHER
THAN CURRENTLY EXPECTED...HEAT INDICES COULD APPROACH THE 100 MARK.
A SLOWLY ADVANCING COLD FRONT WILL BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS
LATE WEDNESDAY AND ESPECIALLY ON THURSDAY.
..SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SPOTTERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO REPORT ANY HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH
OR MORE...OR DAMAGE DUE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES.
$$
FIELD/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
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