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This year, the National Weather Service in Lincoln has two new
partners in the lightning safety awareness campaign: the Illinois
High School Association and the Illinois Elementary School
Association. The IHSA board of directors recently voted to adopt a
new severe weather policy effective the beginning of the 2007-08
school year.
The new IHSA policy will make it easier for coaches and officials
to make decisions about suspending play when lightning or severe
thunderstorms threaten. Nearly 200,000 athletes participate in
outdoor high school sporting events across the state of Illinois,
according to the IHSA. "Since the safety of our student-athletes,
coaches, contest officials and fans has been and always will be a
high priority for our office, it is imperative that we continue to
provide clear guidelines our member schools and officials will
follow during our state tournament series events," said Kurt Gibson,
assistant executive director of the IHSA.
"The IHSA should be commended for their willingness to update the
guidelines to keep participants and spectators safe at outdoor
venues," said Heather Stanley, a meteorologist with the National
Weather Service in Lincoln. "They are leading the way for other
youth activity organizations to create and maintain a severe weather
action plan that will save lives in the future."
The National Weather Service will also continue to team up with
the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources to spread the word about lightning safety.
Lightning safety posters and more than 12,000 lightning safety cards
will be on display at every state park in Illinois. The card, which
was first made available to state park visitors last year,
emphasizes the safety rule that if you hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning -- even if it is not raining.
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Cloud-to-ground lightning occurs within the United States an average
of 25 million times every year. Nearly 650,000 lightning strikes
occur in Illinois each year. A single bolt, with a length that can
exceed five miles and a width of 1 to 2 inches, can generate 100
million electrical volts and a temperature near 50,000 degrees
Fahrenheit. Lightning kills an average of 61 people in the United
States each year and can result in property loss, damage to
electronics and power outages. Reduce your chance of being struck
by moving inside a substantial building or hard-topped metal vehicle
when thunderstorms threaten. Once inside, avoid contact with
plumbing, corded phones or anything plugged into electricity.
"Casualties are more likely to occur during the summer months and
in open areas such as golf courses and playing fields, but
lightning's deadly strike can hit anytime of the year," said Chris
Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather
Service office in Lincoln.
The National Weather Service of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration is the primary source of weather data,
forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories.
The National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and
flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect
lives and property and enhance the national economy.
On the Web:
[Text from news release received from
the
National Weather Service,
Lincoln office] |
