3227 Audley Houston, Texas 77098 Phone: 713-529-3076 Fax: 713-528-3538 E-mail: wrc@wxresearch.org
Press Release
For Immediate Release
April 26, 2002
For Information contact:
Jill F. Hasling 713-529-3076
LIGHTNING CAUSES HIGH LOSS OF LIFE EACH YEAR
NATIONAL LIGHTNING AWARENESS WEEK – APRIL 28- May 4th
HOUSTON – Lightning is the second deadliest weather killer in the US with an average of 73 deaths per year in the US. Second only to heat which on average kills 206 people per year in the US. The National Weather Service has declared April 28 – May 4th Lightning Awareness Week. This is a time to educate people about lightning safety.
Each year most of the lightning deaths occur outdoors. According to preliminary data there were at least 41 lightning deaths in the US in 2001 and 187 injuries reported. These numbers will go up when the final "Storm Data" annual report is published. A woman was killed in a parking lot in northeast Houston on March 14, 2000 and 17 were injured at Astroworld when lightning struck a tree on August 2, 2000. In 2000, there were 51 lightning deaths and 364 injuries in the US. Five of these deaths occurred in Texas and four of these were known to be outside. One of these deaths occurred in Harris County on March 14, 2000. Other years lightning deaths in Harris County have occurred; 1961, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1984.
The total deaths from lightning in the US for previous years is 1999 – 46, 1998 – 44, 1997 – 42, 1996-53 and 1995 – 69. When you compare the data from 1959 to 1999, Texas is ranked second in the number of lightning deaths with 183 to Florida who is ranked number 1 with 390 lightning deaths.
The mission of The Weather Museum at Weather Research Center is to educate and inform the community, including children, regarding weather phenomena and weather safety and to
emphasize the impact of the weather on our personal and professional lives and our environment. With this in mind meteorologist at the Center give tours, talks and answer questions on weather.
"We cannot change the weather but we can educate people on actions that can help to save their lives during extreme weather" states Jill Hasling, President of Weather Research Center. The Weather Museum will be a place for visitors to come an have their questions about weather and weather safety. "Knowledge can save your life" according to Ms. Hasling.
Some quick safety rules that could help keep you and your family safe are:
If you hear thunder seek shelter. This means the lightning is close enough that the next strike could be close to your location.
Do not seek shelter under trees, near fences or light post.
Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from the rain.
Wait 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder before resuming outside activities.
Background on Researchers:
Jill F. Hasling Certified Consulting Meteorologist and Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. Ms. Hasling is a researcher and one of the founding directors of the Weather Research Center, which is a non-profit educational and research facility, based in Houston, Texas. Ms. Hasling has over 27 years of meteorological experience.
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