Illinois NWS partners with Little League to educate participants and fans about lightning dangers

[June 19, 2009]  Thousands of Little League players, coaches, umpires and fans will be flocking to area baseball diamonds in late June to begin their annual tournament playoffs. If the crack of batted baseballs becomes replaced by the crack of thunder from a nearby storm, Little League tournament organizers will now be better prepared to keep participants and fans safer from deadly lightning during summer storms.

NOAA's National Weather Service offices in Illinois, along with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, have provided Little League Baseball officials in Illinois with information regarding lightning safety. This is in conjunction with the annual Lightning Safety Awareness Week -- which is June 21-27.

Annually, lightning causes an average of 62 fatalities and injures nearly 1,000 people in the United States. There have been 14 people killed by lightning in the U.S. already this year. Tragically, one of these fatalities was a Little League player in Virginia.

"I commend Little League Baseball in Illinois for taking action to educate tournament organizers, coaches and umpires about the dangers of lightning and the steps to take if lightning threatens," said Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS Lincoln office. "Seeking shelter in a secure building or automobile immediately upon seeing a bolt of lightning or hearing that first rumble of thunder is the best thing that can be done to protect the participants and fans that take part in Little League games."

Anybody who spends time outdoors, especially during the summer months when thunderstorms are most numerous, needs to be aware of the dangers of lightning. To reduce your chance of being struck by lightning, go inside a substantial building or hard-topped metal vehicle when thunderstorms threaten. Once inside, avoid open windows as well as contact with plumbing, corded phones or anything plugged into electricity.

Lightning can strike many miles away from a thunderstorm, even if it is not raining. Each year, lightning strikes cause billions of dollars in damage due to property loss, fires and power outages in the United States.

"Lightning safety awareness campaigns have made a huge difference in keeping people safe across the country," said Miller. "Sixty years ago, an average of 260 people died from lightning strikes every year. Thirty years ago, an average of 100 people was killed by lightning annually in the U.S. Today that average is around 60 deaths, and last year lightning killed 28 people -- the lowest total since 1940. It is clear that education and awareness about the dangers of lightning has saved lives."

Lightning safety is a two-step process: (1) If you see lightning strike, or hear a rumble of thunder, IMMEDIATELY seek shelter in a substantial building OR a hard-topped vehicle with the windows up. And (2) stay in the building or vehicle at least 30 minutes AFTER the LAST rumble of thunder is heard. Going back outdoors when the rain stops may be TOO SOON because lightning can strike in areas where it is not raining.

For more information about lightning safety, visit one of the Web pages listed below.

• Lightning safety tips, survivor stories, multimedia and other resources: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

• National Weather Service, Lincoln:
  http://www.weather.gov/Lincoln

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency:
  http://www.state.il.us/iema/

[Text from file received from Chris Miller, National Weather Service, Lincoln office]