UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail:  dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

June 21, 2007

Feature Article - for release the week of  June 24, 2007

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent 

 When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

 Summer begins in Florida with a roar, and this year the Lightning Safety Alliance is brining Leon the Lightning Lion to help warn folks about a sure sign of the season: Lightning!  June 24 through June 30 has been designated by National Weather Service as Lightning Safety Week.   It’s a good time to review how to be prepared for this shocking side-effect of summer thunderstorms.

Here’s what Leon has to say to young people:

When thunder roars, go indoors! Thunder is loud, but lighting is dangerous and can hurt you even before it rains.  When you hear thunder, go indoors quickly.  Head for a house, school, or large building.  If you’re caught outdoors, get in a car, truck or bus … never go under a tree.  Stay off telephones, computers, and video games.  Remember, Play it safe … when thunder roars, go indoors!”  

 

Today’s column will give a little more information about the history of lightning,  shocking statistics about lightning injuries, and  safety tips based on current research.  Our webpage offer links to lots more illuminating information about this weather feature.

Lightning in history

Lightning has captured the imagination of mankind from prehistoric times.  Early civilizations thought that lighting was created by the gods, and efforts to capture it to make fire show up in many myths and stories.   Lightning is a big spark ... static electricity on a giant scale.  

Machines for creating static electricity were invented in the 1700’s and "Electric magic" was in great demand as entertainment and parlor tricks amused and fascinated people.  In 1746, a Scottish scientist came to Philadelphia.  Dr. Spence demonstrated "electric magic" to an audience which included the local postmaster.  His name was Benjamin Franklin, and he then became interested in electricity and soon pondered questions about how to use and store this energy.  Then came his kite and key experiments,  in 1752-53.  Franklin's figured out that lightning was electricity, and followed up by inventing lightning rods.

Jump forward to the early 1800’s, and during the Napoleonic wars, British tall ships were damaged --not by the French, but by lightning.  The solution was to install lightning rods.  But since that device was invented by a "rebel colonist" (Benjamin Franklin), the English Navy steadfastly refused this revolutionary solution.  Later on the admirals finally saw the light and installed lightning protection on British warships. 

Lightning kills

Central Florida is the "Lightning Capital" of the US.  On average, lightning is responsible for 53.1% of the weather-related deaths in Florida, more than all other weather hazards combined.   Since 1959, 428 people in Florida have been killed and 1689 have been injured by lightning.  The odds are about 1 in 5 that you will be killed if struck by lightning.

Now for the good news: Okeechobee has not had any lightning related deaths in nearly 50 years, and reports only 9 injuries in that same period.

Where there is a lot of lightning, there is an increased chance of being struck.  The corridor from Tampa to Titusville (a.k.a. "Lightning Alley") receives the most annual lightning in the US.  And, more than 90% of the lightning in this area occurs from May through October, between the hours of noon and midnight. 

During this time of day and year, people who spend a lot of time outdoors (e.g. construction workers, park rangers, golfers, campers etc.) are much more likely to be struck than anywhere else in the country.  The statistics also show that more people are killed by lightning on Wednesdays (as compared to other days), yet the weekends did not show that much of a difference from the rest of the days in the week.

NOAA’s Tips for Lightning Safety

1.      No place outside is safe during thunderstorms!

2.      Use the '30-30 Rule':

o        If the time between lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, go to a safer location

o        If the lightning can't be seen, just hearing thunder means you should go to a safer location

o        Wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder before leaving a safe location.

3.      The best place during lightning is a fully enclosed building with plumbing and wiring.

4.      You can be injured by lightning inside. Stay away from corded telephones, plumbing, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, metal doors or metal window frames, or any electrical conducting path leading outside. Don't watch lightning through a window or open doorway. An inside room is generally best.

5.      The second best location during lightning is a vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides.  There’s more:

o        Close the windows, and don't touch any conducting path leading outside

o        Convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, open shelled outdoor recreational vehicles, and cars with plastic or fiberglass roofs and sides offer no lightning protection. A myth is that the rubber tires protect you in a car by insulating you from the ground. This is wrong: lightning laughs at 2 inches of rubber - it's the metal that protects you.

6.      Avoid places and activities known for highest lightning casualties: open fields and elevated places; under trees or other tall isolated objects; water related activities like swimming, boating, fishing, etc.; golfing; open vehicles (farm, construction, etc.); telephone; and radio equipment and computers.

7.      Outdoor sports have the fastest growing rates of lightning casualties - coaches, referees, parents, and children need to have a lightning safety plan!

8.      Open picnic pavilions and rain shelters offer absolutely no protection from lightning!

9.      When outside, appoint someone to be the lightning monitor.  Their job is to use the '30-30 rule', stay tuned to weather radio, or to local radio/TV, and observe the weather to tell the group when to seek proper shelter.

If someone is struck by lightning, immediately call 9-1-1.  Most lightning deaths are from cardiac arrest or from stopped breathing.  Perform CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if possible.  And don't worry about touching a lightning victim - they cannot electrocute you!

Rain Barrel Workshop and Garden Club meetings

The next meeting of the Okeechobee Garden Club will be held at our office at 6 PM on Monday June 25, 2007, followed by the Orchid Club at 7 PM. And, our office is holding a Rain Barrel Workshop on Tuesday June 26, 2005 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.  Call to register and learn how to save rain for your Florida Yard.  

I’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee Extension webpage, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on  , please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  GO GATORS!