July 16, 2013 — Oh, and let’s not forget Governor John Hickenlooper! So what do architects, firefighters, meteorologists, Red Sox fans and Governor John Hickenlooper have in common? They were all part of the “Building Lightning Safe Communities” campaign effort in conjunction with Lightning Safety Awareness Week 2013. The collaboration was certainly a “tag-team” effort beginning in Denver, CO on June 22 and wrapping up in Boston on June 28. Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper, graciously provided campaign support with an official Lightning Safety Awareness Week proclamation, noting that “education is key to understanding lightning’s dangers.” And education was the focus when LPI, the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA), the National Weather Service (NWS) and other partnering organizations joined emergency preparedness director, Dana Reynolds and South Metro Fire Rescue chief, Dan Qualman for a press conference at Fire Station #45 in Parker, CO to kick-off the 13th annual Lightning Safety Awareness Week and share details about the Building Lightning Safe Communities campaign.
Why Colorado for the kick-off? Our partners at the NWS tell us that lightning strikes Colorado almost 500,000 times a year and has killed 91 people and injured over 400 in Colorado since 1980. Lightning has also been responsible for sparking devastating wildfires in the region and in other nearby states. Lightning is also known to accompany tornadoes; which was just the scenario when a tornado touched ground at the Denver airport on June 18, just three days prior to the Lightning Safety Awareness week kick-off event! (I was privy to an up-close and personal view of the brewing storm while participating in a LPI strategic planning session at the Denver Airport Marriott.)
“A single bolt of lightning can reach over five miles in length and carry a hundred million volts of electricity,” explains Mark Morgan, spokesman for the LSA. The LSA held a continuing education seminar about lightning protection and national safety standards which Morgan moderated in conjunction with the Parker, CO kick-off event.
Concerns about national safety standards for lightning protection is where the architects tag-up for the 2013 LSA Week effort. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention was held in Denver this summer and featured a broadcast of “ARCHITECT Live” on the Expo hall which introduced attendees to personalities, experts and industry watchers who shared insights and ideas about the world of architecture. While at the AIA Expo, I enjoyed the opportunity to provide a five-minute interview with host, Stephen Chung to introduce the Building Lightning Safe Communities campaign and discuss the importance of national safety standards. Architects rely on this important information when specifying lightning protection. (Architects seeking information about safety standards for lightning protection can contact www.lightningsafetyalliance.org for information about an AIA registered continuing education program, “Lightning Protection Basics – LSA 101.”)
Tag-up firefighters, and here we were blessed to work with South Metro Fire Rescue Chief, Dan Qualman who served as emcee for the 2013 LSA Week kick-off press conference. “Each year we see lightning-related injuries, deaths and property loss that might have been prevented with awareness and education,” said Chief Qualman. In conjunction with the Building Lightning Safe Communities campaign, LPI member firms, Mr. Lightning and ECLE facilitated a lightning protection system donation for South Metro Fire Rescue Station #45. LPI and member firms have organized several other lightning protection system donations for fire stations in high risk regions of the U.S., as outreach with fire safety groups has revealed that many stations across the country are lacking systems to protect their personnel, structures and equipment.
Another highlight of the 2013 campaign was the “Safer Design for Safer Play” educational initiative which promotes lightning safety and provides educational resources for outdoor facilities such as theme, parks, golf courses, open air venues and stadiums. This is where the meteorologists and Red Sox fans tag-teamed to load the bases for lightning safety. Stay tuned for more of the LSA Week re-cap…to be continued soon!