PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
600 AM CDT SUN JUN 23 2013

...JUNE 23RD THROUGH 29TH IS NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS
WEEK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT...THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND TOURISM...THE U.S.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS...THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF ARKANSAS...
AND ENTERGY ARKANSAS INCORPORATED ARE SPONSORS OF THE WEEK IN
ARKANSAS.

FROM 1997 THROUGH 2012...ARKANSAS AVERAGED NEARLY 800 THOUSAND
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING FLASHES PER YEAR. THIS MADE ARKANSAS
THE 11TH MOST ACTIVE STATE IN THE NATION FOR LIGHTNING.

THE LAST LIGHTNING FATALITY IN ARKANSAS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 8 2011...
WHEN A MAN NEAR RECTOR IN CLAY COUNTY WAS KILLED BY LIGHTNING WHILE
CHOPPING COTTON.  SO FAR THIS YEAR...THERE HAVE BEEN THREE LIGHTNING
INJURIES IN THE STATE.  ON JANUARY 29TH...A PERSON WAS SHOCKED BY
LIGHTNING IN A HOUSE NEAR MONTICELLO.  ON MAY 30TH...TWO PEOPLE WERE
INJURED BY LIGHTNING IN A PARKING LOT IN ROGERS.

IN 2012 IN THE UNITED STATES...28 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY LIGHTNING
STRIKES. OF THESE...
  100 PERCENT WERE OUTSIDE
  89 PERCENT WERE MALE

HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THE FATALITIES OCCURRED AND WHAT THE
PEOPLE WERE DOING...

1.  PLAYING UNDER A TREE
2 AND 3.  IN A SMALL METAL STRUCTURE UNDER A TREE AFTER FISHING
4.  FISHING IN A BOAT ON A LAKE
5.  HARVESTING A CROP IN A FARM FIELD
6.  REPAIRING UTILITIES IN AN OPEN AREA
7.  WORKING IN A YARD UNDER A TREE
8.  AT THE BEACH ON A FAMILY OUTING
9.  IN THE FRONT YARD AT A FAMILY GATHERING
10. STEPPING OUT THE DOOR
11. FISHING UNDER A TREE BY A BOAT RAMP
12. IN THE DRIVEWAY OF A HOME
13 AND 14. UNDER A TREE AFTER PLAYING SOCCER
15. IN THE DRIVEWAY OF A HOME
16. FISHING UNDER A TREE
17. CAMPING NEAR TREES
18. PICKING BERRIES UNDER A TREE
19. INSTALLING AN OUTDOOR WATERING SYSTEM
20. IN THE PARKING LOT OF A NASCAR RACE
21 AND 22. AT THE BEACH
23. FISHING AT THE BEACH
24. SAILING
25. FISHING NEAR A TREE
26. WATCHING A SOCCER GAME NEAR A TREE
27. MOVING A BIKE UNDER A TREE
28. AT FOOTBALL PRACTICE IN AN OPEN FIELD

SO FAR IN 2013...THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN LIGHTNING FATALITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES.

1.  UNDER TREES IN THE FRONT YARD
2.  FISHING IN A BOAT ON A LAKE
3.  STANDING OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT
4.  FISHING IN A BOAT ON A RIVER
5.  WALKING ON THE BEACH
6.  IN A PARK
7.  FISHING IN A BOAT ON A LAKE

EACH DAY THIS WEEK...A DIFFERENT TOPIC WILL BE COVERED.

MONDAY...THERE WILL BE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF LIGHTNING.

TUESDAY...THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING WILL BE COVERED.

WEDNESDAY...THE TOPIC WILL BE LIGHTNING SAFETY OUTDOORS.

THURSDAY...LIGHTNING SAFETY INDOORS WILL BE DISCUSSED.

FRIDAY...THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING WILL BE DISCUSSED.


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