National Groups Partner to Promote Lightning Safety

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Jun 17, 2010, 08:55 ET

HARTFORD, Conn., June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Several national groups are joining forces to promote public awareness about lightning safety and mitigation. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc.-FLASH, the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), the Lightning Safety Alliance (LSA) and the National Weather Service are hosting a "Search for Storm Heroes" event at the MOSI Museum in Tampa, FL to kick off the tenth annual Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 20-26, 2010. NOAA and the National Weather Service launched an annual lightning safety campaign in 2001 to increase awareness about the dangers of lightning and provide the public with safety information to help protect families and their property.

"Lightning is a dangerous and unpredictable force of nature which kills about 58 people and injures hundreds more in the U.S. each year," said Donna Franklin, director of the NOAA Lightning Safety Awareness Team. "Outreach with like-minded partners helps expand our mission to deliver lightning safety and preparedness messages to the public," added Franklin.

"Lightning is also responsible for millions of dollars in damage to buildings, communication systems, power lines and electrical systems each year," says Leslie Chapman-Henderson, CEO and president of FLASH. "Lightning Safety Awareness Week is an ideal time to remind homeowners about resiliency and mitigation options that can help protect their property against lightning."

"Lack of awareness about what to do during thunderstorms seems to be a common factor in many lightning injuries and deaths," said Guy Maxwell, spokesman for the LSA. "Events like the {lightning safety awareness} kickoff planned at MOSI help to educate the young and old about the underrated dangers of lightning."

Lightning safety experts will be on hand at the MOSI Museum from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2010 to share valuable lightning safety tips for children and adults. Radio Disney will feature games and prizes at the event which is free with paid MOSI admission and free to MOSI members.

"LPI has promoted lightning safety to reduce unnecessary and expensive property damage through awareness and education for over 50 years," said Bud VanSickle, executive director of LPI. "Partnerships with groups like FLASH, IBHS, LSA and the National Weather Service help us align existing efforts and pool our expert resources accordingly, to better address lightning safety needs for life and property," explained VanSickle.

More information about National Lightning Safety Awareness Week can be found at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. FLASH, LPI and LSA are nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from lightning. All organizations feature educational resources such as brochures and short videos about lightning protection loss prevention and home lightning safety on their websites.

www.lightning.org

SOURCE Lightning Safety Alliance