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LIGHTNING PROTECTION (Page 3)
WHEN THE BIG CLOUDS GATHER By David H. Levy (Continued)
Count The Hazards
As you
read this article, an average of 1800 thunderstorms are creating havoc somewhere
on Earth in one or more of the following ways:
Lightning. In a typical year, 73 people are killed
and more than 300 injured by lightning. Lightning kills far more
people than any other weather event, including tornadoes. A bolt
of lightning can force an enormous amount of electricity through your body. Consider
an electric shock in the home. Its 120 volts can cause severe injury. Compare
that to 15 million volts from a lightning bolt!
Although the
overall odds of being struck by lightning in the U.S. are estimated at one in 615,000,
the likelihood increases depending on where you are when a storm comes up. “Half
the casualties of lightning occur during activities in open fields, such as soccer
and baseball,” warns Conrad Lautenbacher, administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration. “Parents and coaches have to know: If you
hear thunder, get your children inside a substantial building. A vehicle
with a metal roof and sides is a good second choice.”
High
Winds. Strong winds are typical of thunderstorms, but some weather
patterns produce a microburst—a violent, localized downdraft covering
2.5 miles or less, with winds up to 150 mph. Some, called “dry” microbursts,
have little rain, as most of the water stays above 10,000 feet. Microbursts
can blow down trees and rip manufactured homes off their foundations.
Floods. Slow-moving
storms can produce sudden large torrents that flood streets. The enormous
pressure of large amounts of water rushing through a low-lying area can move a
car a mile or more.
Hail. If
the humid air rises far enough and stays in the cloud long enough, the water droplets
can freeze and grow and fall as hail. Hailstones can be as large as softballs—yet
another reason to go indoors. In 1995, a hailstorm in Dallas damaged so many
planes that some airlines temporarily lost portions of their fleets while repairs
were made.
Tornadoes. Thunderstorms
come in various sizes. A storm can grow from a single-cell storm—a small,
solitary thundercloud—to a multicell cluster that covers a large area. “Supercell”
storms are the most likely to produce tornadoes. They form when lower-atmosphere
winds are moving at a radically different speed and/or direction from ground winds,
causing the whole system to rotate rapidly. Supercells are most common in
the Midwest, where cold air rushing in from the North attacks warm and humid Southern
air to produce incredibly tall, swirling clouds and violent winds that can toss
a car and level a house.
KNOW HOW AND WHEN TO PLAY IT SAFE
Weather
forecasters issue thunderstorm warnings as if all storms are equally dangerous. One
result is that many of us regard them as “crying wolf” and ignore the warnings. Often
they’ll say, “chance of thunderstorms,” because it’s hard to know precisely
when and where a storm will burst—one can arrive suddenly, with little warning
except the darkening sky as it approaches.
Outdoor activities
are fun when it’s fair but can be lethal in a thunderstorm. Golf, cycling
and swimming expose us to metal and water, which conduct electricity. Continuing
your fun in a storm is like inviting lightning to strike.
Prevention is
much better than treating a victim. Get into the habit of observing the weather
and paying attention to forecasts. And know what safety measures to take. (See
how to Stay Safe).
Like other grand
spectacles of Nature, thunderstorms—at once extraordinarily beautiful, dangerous
and frightening—must be respected. A little knowledge about them can help
you to protect yourself and those in your care when the big clouds gather.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
Thunderstorms arrive suddenly, with little warning except the darkening sky as the thundercloud approaches. If you see tall, puffy cumulus clouds growing and daylight rapidly dimming, observe these safety measures.
If you’re near a house or other building...
- Make sure that all children are accounted for.
- Secure outdoor furniture.
- Go indoors. If the storm is severe, with frequent and close lightning bursts, head for a basement or a room in the middle of a house or other building.
- Keep away from objects that might conduct electricity (such as radiators, pipes and metal door frames).
- Stay away from windows.
- Do not take a bath or shower during a storm. Water helps to conduct electricity and walls don’t always protect from the high energy of a lightning bolt.
- Do not get close to electrical appliances such as plug-in radios and TVs. Use battery-operated radios.
- Restrict all calls to cell phones.
In an open field or on a golf course...
- If you feel your hair start to stand on end or your skin tingle, or if you hear crackling sounds, lightning may be about to strike you. Drop down quickly, bend forward, feet together, hands on knees. Do not lie flat: You want to make yourself as small as possible and have minimal contact with the ground.
In the city...
- Don’t stand on an apartment house roof during a thunderstorm (Last summer, a young man was fatally struck by lightning in New York City while doing just that.)
If you’re swimming...
- Get out of the pool, lake or ocean at the first sign of lightning or thunder. Find indoor shelter or get into a car. Stay out of the water for at least 30 minutes without thunder.
- Stay away from metal fences or flagpoles.
If someone is struck...
- Heart attacks are the usual cause of lightning fatalities. If breathing stops, seek medical help at once.