June 14, 2013 — National groups across the country join forces in June to promote public awareness about lightning safety and mitigation. NOAA and the National Weather Service launched an annual lightning safety campaign in 2001 to increase awareness about the dangers of lightning and provide the public with safety information to help protect families and their property. Since 2001, outreach with like-minded partners such as the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, FLASH, the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have helped expand the campaign mission to deliver lightning safety and preparedness messages to the public.
The 13th annual Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 23-29, 2013. This year’s campaign kick-off will take place in Parker, CO with a press conference and community event planned for June 21, at South Metro Fire Rescue Station #45. The kick-off event will also provide an overview of the “Building Lightning Safe Communities” campaign, which is providing lightning protection systems for fire stations across the U.S. In conjunction with the campaign, a LPI-IP certified lightning protection system installation will provided for South Metro Fire Rescue Station #45 by LPI member firms, ECLE and Mr. Lightning.
Lightning is responsible for billions of dollars in damage to buildings, communication systems, power lines and electrical systems each year. Lightning Safety Awareness Week is an ideal time to remind the public about steps they can take to stay safe from lightning’s underrated risk.
Lightning safety awareness and education boosted by partnership can help build on the success of existing programs and services. By pooling expert resources accordingly, partners can come together to make a difference to better address lightning safety and protection needs for life and property.
More information about National Lightning Safety Awareness Week can be found at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. More information about lightning safety and protection for outdoor facilities can be found www.lightning-risk.org.
