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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