Gov. John Hickenlooper officially declared June 18 to 24 as Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week to encourage residents to learn the facts and heed the hazards of thunderbolts, especially during summer. People are responsible for their own safety and should protect themselves with information about what happens when lightning strikes in the state.
Topics related to lightning and wildfires were covered throughout the week, including an overview, the science of lightning, outdoor-lightning risk reduction, indoor lightning safety, medical issues for survivors of lightning strikes and lightning and wildfires. Here are the highlights:
Lightning generally receives less attention because only one or two victims are involved per incident and it leaves little destruction compared to other natural disasters, such as tornadoes or hurricanes.Cloud-to-ground lightning can be negatively charged or positively charged. Negative strikes are far more common and both negative and positive strikes can be deadly, though positive strikes are generally more destructive, deliver more overall electrical charge and remain in contact with the ground for a longer period of time.Each year in the United States, cloud-to-ground lightning flashes are estimated at 25 million and kill an average of 30 people, based on the last ten years of data. More than a half million lighting strikes a year hit the ground in Colorado. Thirty-eight fatalities nationwide, two in Colorado, were recorded in 2016, and all of them occurred outdoors. Most lightning deaths and injuries in Colorado occur in the afternoon when lightning is most likely to develop and people are outside.The most effective way to avoid being struck by lightning is to find a substantial shelter when thunder is first heard and remain there for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder. “When thunder roars, go indoors.”It’s rare to be injured by lightning when indoors, but it does happen. To prevent being struck while inside: Avoid corded electronics and electrical equipment; avoid contact with plumbing, such as faucets, bathtubs and showers, dishwashers, laundry machines, etc.; avoid windows, doors, garages and porches; avoid contact with concrete floors and walls; and seek refuge in an enclosed car or truck if no substantial buildings are nearby.Immediate medical attention after being struck by lightning is critical for a successful recovery. Lightning-strike victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to handle. People who have been hit by lightning can face an array of challenges, such as memory loss, attention problems, increased fatigue in response to physical activity, sleeping too much or too little, chronic headaches and painful nerve damage.Colorado is subject to about 2,500 wildfires each year, and half of them are caused by lightning. Fire danger increases considerably after mid-June, hits its peak in early July, and remains high until early September. These lightning-induced wildfires are often the result of “dry” thunderstorms with minimal rainfall, and spread rapidly from the strong, erratic winds that accompany thunderstorms. Fire-danger updates and red-flag warnings are promptly given by the National Weather Service when conditions change.For more information, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov or www.weather.gov/pub/lightning.
fstone@durangoherald.com
