Severe Weather Awareness

THIS WEEK IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA.

TODAY IS LIGHTNING AWARENESS DAY...

THE SUMMER MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER ARE THE DEADLIEST AS FAR AS LIGHTNING IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF MORE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THESE MONTHS AND THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE DURING WARMER WEATHER.

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, 3 PEOPLE WILL BE STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING IN ALABAMA AND AT LEAST 6 WILL BE INJURED.

TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF BECOMING A VICTIM OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE, HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES:

IF YOU SEE A FLASH OF LIGHTNING AND HEAR THUNDER WITHIN 30 SECONDS,

1. MOVE INSIDE A WELL CONSTRUCTED HOUSE, A LARGE BUILDING OR AN ALL METAL VEHICLE. STAY AWAY FROM ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND DO NOT USE A LAND-LINE TELEPHONE WHERE LIGHTNING COULD TRAVEL ALONG THE TELEPHONE WIRE.

2. IF YOU ARE IN A BOAT OR SWIMMING, GET OFF OR OUT OF THE WATER AND INTO A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING OR AT LEAST INTO AN ENCLOSED AND ALL-METAL VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS UP. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN AN OPEN METAL BOAT, LIE DOWN IN THE BOAT WITH CUSHIONS BETWEEN YOU AND THE METAL SIDES AND BOTTOM.

3. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTDOORS DURING A STORM AND ARE TOO FAR AWAY FROM APPROPRIATE SHELTER, CROUCH DOWN LOW, BUT DO NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND. IF IN A RAVINE OR VALLEY, BE ALERT FOR THE THREAT OF FLOODING.

4. MOVE AWAY FROM MOTORCYCLES, SCOOTERS, GOLF CARTS, BICYCLES, TRACTORS AND OTHER METAL FARM EQUIPMENT. AVOID WIRE FENCES, CLOTHESLINES, METAL PIPES AND DRAINS, RAILROAD TRACKS AND ANY OTHER METAL SURFACES WHERE LIGHTNING IS PRONE TO TRAVEL.

5. AVOID ISOLATED TREES. STAY AWAY FROM THE TALLEST TREES. IF CAUGHT IN THE WOODS, PICK A SMALL GROVE OF TREES AS YOUR SHELTER AND STAND AT LEAST 5 FEET FROM THE TRUNK OF THE NEAREST TREE TO AVOID FLYING BARK IF THE TREE IS STRUCK.

6. AVOID STANDING IN A SMALL ISOLATED SHED OR OTHER SMALL UNGROUNDED STRUCTURE LIKE A DUGOUT AT THE BALL PARK.

7. IF YOU ARE WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN AN OPEN AREA AND CANNOT GET TO APPROPRIATE SHELTER, SPREAD OUT BEFORE FOLLOWING RULE NUMBER 3.

8. FINALLY, STAY IN A SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE LIGHTNING THREAT IS GONE. WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES FROM THE LAST SOUND OF THUNDER BEFORE VENTURING BACK OUTSIDE OR AWAY FROM YOUR SAFE SHELTER.