Lightning safety signs to be posted around the area

With spring and summer temperatures often accompanied by thunderstorms, it's important to understand the risks lightning can pose while enjoying the outdoors.

Region 21 Emergency Management Director, Ron Leal said Sidney residents will be among those across the panhandle that will soon be seeing signs that read "When thunder roars, go indoors."

Leal partnered with Warning Coordinator, Chad Hahn form the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to bring the signs into Cheyenne, Morrill, Kimball, Deuel and Garden counties.

Hahn said on average 47 people die a year due to lighting.

"A great percentage of folks farming and engaging in outdoor activities contributes to the fatalities," Hahn said.

A study released in March by John Jensenius Jr. of the NOAA stated that between 2006 and 2016 lightning resulted in 352 deaths. Two thirds of those fatalities were during outdoor leisure activities.

Along with being in cities, towns and villages, the signs will be posted at all of the area lakes to caution lake goers of the inherit dangers that can come when you hear thunder.

Seeking shelter in a storm is the best option, but sometimes shelter is not available.

"As a rule of thumb if there is a thunder storm while you are at the lake, the best place to be is the bathroom," Leal said.

The public is warned when a severe thunderstorm is heading into the area. However, Hahn said there is no severity index for lightning.

"In other words," Hahn said. "No one is going to ring your doorbell and let you know to seek shelter."

Hence the saying displayed on the new signs, "When thunder roars, go indoors."

Leal said, the most dangerous place in a thunderstorm is anytime you are the tallest object, especially in open areas.

"It is also important to wait 30 minutes after you hear the thunder stop to go back outside," Leal said.

The odds of being struck by lightning based on the NOAA research are not as astronomical as one would think. Based on the 2006-2015 average of lightning strikes, a person has a one in 13,000 chance of being struck by lightning in their lifetime.

Hahn said the first fatality caused by lightning in 2017 happened at the beginning of this month in Colorado, when a woman and her horse died after being hit by lighting.

The incident is something Hahn and Leal are hoping to avoid by placing the signs around the area and furthering education.

"We have seen a decrease in fatality, due in part to education," Hahn said.

For more information and statistics on lighting safety visit http://www.lightingsaftey.noaa.gov.