Lightning's Dangers Hit Home in Eye-Opening PSA

NORTH CONWAY, N.H., June 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), a non-profit dedicated to promoting lightning safety, awareness and protection education, is unveiling an eye-opening new public service announcement today to kick off national Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 21-27. The spot, produced by Richmond-based branding, marketing and PR firm Madison+Main, emphasizes the importance of protecting people, property and places against the deadly, yet often underrated lightning threat.

LPI's objective for its 2015 PSA is to discourage apathy about lightning's dangers and combat misconceptions about the common weather peril. The PSA also highlights LPI's "Building Lightning Safe Communities" campaign theme, encouraging viewers to consider best practices for personal safety and the installation of lightning protection systems to safeguard their structures. 

"NOAA and the National Weather Service began the lightning safety awareness campaign in 2001 and have led the effort for personal safety," said Kim Loehr, director of communications for LPI. "In recent years, LPI has helped expand the campaign by emphasizing protection for people, property and places through our Building Lightning Safe Communities initiative." 

Lightning associated with thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes can pose a variety of fire hazards. Lightning's extreme electrical charge can induce destructive power surges through home circuitry, burn holes in CSST gas piping, explode brick and roofing materials and ignite home fires. For homeowners who don't want to play the odds with lightning, a professionally installed lightning protection system is a viable idea.

"Fortunately, the threat that lightning poses to property can be easily addressed with the installation of a lightning protection system," said Jennifer Morgan, spokesperson for the non-profit, Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA). "A lightning protection system provides a low-resistance network to safely intercept lightning's harmful electricity and direct it to ground without impact to the structure or occupants."  

U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated 22,600 fires sparked by lightning which are responsible for deaths, injuries and millions of dollars in direct property damage each year. The NFPA 780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems provides lightning protection system requirements to help safeguard structures from fire risks and damage associated with the lightning hazard. http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=780

Click here to view the Lightning Protection Institute's 'News Reporter' PSA. For more information or to obtain a copy of the PSA, contact Kim Loehr at [email protected]. To locate a LPI-certified lightning protection system installer in your area, click here.

About the Lightning Protection Institute
The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) is a not-for-profit, nationwide group founded in 1955 to promote lightning safety, awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection information and system requirements. Visit the LPI website at http://lightning.org for more information.

About the Lightning Safety Alliance
The Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA) is a non-profit, national league of lightning protection professionals and consumers dedicated to the promotion of lightning protection and lightning safety. Visit the LSA website at http://www.lightningsafetyalliance.org/ for more information.

SOURCE Lightning Protection Institute

Related Links

http://lightning.org