PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 700 AM EDT WED MAY 23 2001 ...LIGHTNING SAFETY AT SEA... EACH YEAR AN AVERAGE OF 100,000 THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ADJACENT MARITIME AREAS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN POSE A VARIETY OF THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY...INCLUDING TORNADOES OR WATERSPOUTS, LARGE HAIL, WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH, HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS OVER THE OPEN WATERS WHERE BOATERS CANNOT EASILY SEEK SAFE HARBOR. THE MOST COMMON THUNDERSTORM ELEMENT THAT BOATERS WILL ENCOUNTER AT SEA IS LIGHTNING. LIGHTNING CAN GENERATE A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH CAN VAPORIZE WATER...MELT METAL OBJECTS OR CAUSE AN EXPLOSIVE EXPANSION OF ANYTHING IT CONTACTS. IN FACT...IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF LIGHTNING CAN APPROACH 50,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR ALMOST 5 TIMES THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SUN. THE DAMAGE LIGHTNING CAN DO TO A BOAT IS UNPREDICTABLE. A SHORT DURATION STRIKE MAY SIMPLY PASS THROUGH AN OBJECT CAUSING LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE. A LARGE STROKE CAN BE CATASTROPHIC...ESPECIALLY IF IT RESULTS IN A FIRE OR LOSS OF RADIO AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT. THE ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE GENERATED BY LIGHTNING ALONE CAN DEVASTATE A BOAT'S ELECTRONIC GEAR OR AT LEAST RESULT IN THE LOSS OF INTERNAL MEMORY. ALTHOUGH YOU CANNOT PREVENT LIGHTNING FROM STRIKING YOUR BOAT YOU CAN TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE POTENTIAL. THE PROTECTION OF YOUR CREW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT DURING SEVERE WEATHER AT SEA. IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES, AND YOU ARE CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN WATERS, MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR CREW ARE WEARING APPROVED FLOTATION DEVICES. IF LIGHTNING STRIKES YOUR BOAT... YOU MAY BECOME THE PATHWAY THE CURRENT TAKES TO EXIT THE BOAT. SO IF POSSIBLE...STAY BELOW DECK AND AWAY FROM METAL OBJECTS... ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE UNGROUNDED. LIGHTNING PROTECTION IN THE FORM OF A GOOD CONDUCTIVE PATHWAY IS ESSENTIAL IN PROTECTING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF YOUR BOAT. THE MOST EFFECTIVE PATHWAY WILL ALLOW THE CURRENT TO TRAVEL THROUGH AND OFF THE BOAT...MINIMIZING THE DAMAGE POTENTIAL IN TURN. THIS PATHWAY MUST BE A CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL OF LOW RESISTANCE. THE BEST MATERIAL WOULD IDEALLY BE A SOLID COPPER WIRE WITH DIAMETER OF AT LEAST 8 GAUGE ATTACHED TO A DISCHARGE PLATE OR KEEL TO DISPERSE THE CURRENT OFF THE BOAT. AN IMPORTANT PREVENTATIVE MEASURE YOU CAN INSTALL TO LIMIT THE CHANCES OF A RECEIVING A LIGHTNING STRIKE IS A STATIC DISSIPATOR. WHEN UTILIZED PROPERLY...THESE DEVICES GREATLY REDUCE THE MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH ON THE VESSEL. IN OTHER WORDS...THE STATIC DISSIPATOR WILL MAKE THE POTENTIAL OF THE BOAT SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE SURROUNDING WATER. ASK YOUR LOCAL MARINA OR BOAT DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING LIGHTNING PROTECTION METHODS. EVEN THOUGH YOU CANNOT STOP LIGHTNING FROM STRIKING YOU CAN TAKE THE NECESSARY MEASURES NEEDED TO PROTECT OR MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO ELECTRONICS AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF YOUR BOAT. MOST IMPORTANTLY...YOU MUST LIMIT THE DANGER TO YOURSELF AND YOUR CREW. REMEMBER THAT BOATING SAFETY BEGINS ON SHORE WITH PLANNING. BEFORE SETTING OUT...CHECK NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS...MARINE WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES FOR YOUR BOATING AREA. FINALLY...YOUR BEST COURSE OF ACTION IF THE WEATHER BECOMES THREATENING IS TO SEEK SAFE HARBOR. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC AND THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE STATEMENTS TO PROMOTE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK FROM MAY 19 TO MAY 25...2001. A STATEMENT ABOUT BOATER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 7 AM EDT THURSDAY. ...BOAT SMART; BOAT SAFE; TAKE CONTROL... $$