PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT   
   NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR   
   200 PM CDT FRI JUN 26 2015   
      
   ...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...   
      
   The National Weather Service has declared the week of June   
   21st through the 27th as LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. This   
   is the last of five public information statements to be issued   
   by the National Weather Service office in Little Rock   
   containing details about lightning.   
      
   Today`s topic is LIGHTNING SAFETY AROUND THE HOME.   
      
   Although houses and other substantial buildings offer the   
   best protection from lightning, many homes across the United   
   States are struck by lightning. In fact, on average, lightning   
   causes about 4400 house fires and 1800 other structural fires   
   each year. Lightning is responsible for nearly $1 billion in   
   damage annually.   
      
   There are three main ways lightning enters homes and   
   buildings: (1) a direct strike, (2) through wires or pipes   
   that extend outside the structure, and (3) through the   
   ground. Once in a structure, the lightning can travel through   
   the electrical and phone wires, the plumbing, and radio and   
   television reception systems.   
      
   Indoor safety depends on avoiding contact with items that   
   are vulnerable to lightning within the home. Here are some   
   indoor safety tips to follow when a thunderstorm is in   
   the area:   
      
   - Do not touch electrical equipment or plug/unplug cords.   
      
   - Stay off corded phones.   
      
   - Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take   
     a shower, wash dishes, or do laundry.   
      
   Question: What are lightning rods and how do they work?   
      
   Answer: Lightning rods protect a home from a direct lightning   
   strike, but they do not prevent a home from being struck. They   
   are designed to intercept lightning, to provide a conductive path   
   for the harmful electrical discharge to follow, and to disperse   
   the energy safely into the ground.   
      
   Please note: While lightning rods help protect a structure from   
   a direct lightning strike, a complete lightning protection system   
   is recommended inside the home. This includes electrical   
   surge protection devices for incoming power, data, communication   
   lines, and vulnerable appliances. Lightning protection may also   
   be needed for gas pipes.   
      
   &&   
      
      
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