Minimizing your risk of being struck by lightning is to stay informed and plan. The Carbondale Office of Emergency Management would like to share information from the National Weather Service in Paducah, KY, to help you minimize your risk.
They started National Lightning Safety Awareness Week in 2001 to call attention to lightning being an underrated killer. Since then, U.S. lightning fatalities have dropped from about 55 per year to less than 30. This reduction in lightning fatalities is mainly due to the greater awareness of lightning danger and people seeking safety when thunderstorms threaten. During Lightning Safety Awareness Week, the NWS encourages you to learn more about lightning and lightning safety.
Understanding the Lightning Threat - What You Need to Know...
- Your chances of being struck by lightning depend on your behavior when storms are in the area.
- The threat of lightning increases as a storm approaches, peaks when it is overhead, and gradually diminishes as it moves away.
- Many people wait too long to get to a safe place and then go back outside too soon before the threat ends.
- Poor planning or surprise thunderstorm development catches many people off guard.
During Lightning Safety Awareness Week, the NWS will provide graphics and information daily. Please visit www.weather.gov to learn more about lightning and lightning safety.