Lightning Awareness

Brigadier General John J. Kelly, Jr., United States Air Force (Ret.)Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and AtmosphereNOAA Deputy Administrator06.22.2004

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NOAA Where Science Gains Value

National Lightning Safety Awareness TeamNational Lightning Safety Awareness WeekNOAA Weather RadioStormReady

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National Lightning Safety Awareness

Team

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National Lightning Safety Awareness

TeamWon National Lightning Safety Institute’s2003 U.S. Government Service Award

Common outreach materials developed by LSA

Fact Sheets Teacher’s Aids—Coloring Books

Public Service Announcements

Posters

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National Lightning Safety Awareness

Week200+ local and national media interviewsNOAA and partners produce and distribute 30,000 safety magnetsDistributed 30,000 Lightning Kills–Play it Safe Posters

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National Lightning Safety Awareness

Websitewww.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

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NOAA Weather Radio

NWR reaches 97% of US populationJune 17 – signed MOA with DHS

DHS broadcasts other warnings

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StormReadyProvides skills and education to survive severe weather eventsBegan in Tulsa 1999Must meet criteria

Conduct Exercises 24 hour Emergency Center Multiple dissemination systems Monitor local conditions Conduct Seminars Have a plan

735 StormReady in 47 states

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Adding Value to Science

NOAA continuing long legacy...

“Greatest thing: do well for my fellow man…”

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Lightning Reports circa 1750

Bell ringers rang church bell to ward off lightningIn Germany alone during the mid 1700s, in a 35 year period 386 churches were struck and more than 100 bell ringers were killed!

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Ben Franklin ActsJune 1752 – Franklin performed his kite experimentProved lightning was electricity and was drawn to pointsLightning rods began appearing in Europe and America

Standard lightning rod—blunt tip

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Franklin Rings the Bell

Safe method of detecting imminent lightningToday we are the bell ringers

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PartnershipPerfect Balance

NOAA disseminates information and scientific data You tell your stories

Together we do well by doing good