 | | PHOTO COURTESY OF NOAA | | June 24-30 is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week |
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By Kevin Gaboury
Crook County's most anticipated event - the Crooked River Roundup - kicks off today, but residents may be shocked to learn that the last full week in June is also National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.
"It's right at the start of summer and it's when people are engaging in outdoor activities," said Linda Joy, public affairs specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "The summer months are when the most lightning fatalities and injuries occur."
According to information from the NOAA, there have been 15 lightning fatalities nationwide to date this year. More than 70 percent of lightning fatalities occur between June and August.
However, comparatively, Oregon ranks lower than most states when it comes to lightning deaths and injuries.
Oregon ranks number 48 out of 52 (including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico) in lightning injuries, with only 26 from 1959 to 2008. Of these, eight were fatal.
The last lightning fatality in Oregon occurred in 1997 when a man riding his horse was struck in Wheeler County. Both the man and horse were killed.
The most recent publicized case in the state was 14-year-old Austin Melton, who was struck outside of LaPine Middle School early this month. According to media reports, he is expected to fully recover.
According to Cascade Healthcare Community emergency department staff, there is no record of a lightning fatality in the tri-county area in recent years. In 2004, a Bend boy was injured when lightning traveled through his house's plumbing and into the bathtub he was in.
According to the National Weather Service, the chances of being struck by lightning are 1 in 700,000.
John Jensenuis, lightning safety expert for the National Weather Service says Oregon's climate has a lot to do with its low frequency of lightning.
"The Northern Pacific coast tends to not be one that is favorable for thunderstorm development," Jensenuis said. "Another factor is (Oregon's) humidity levels aren't quite as high as they are in other parts of the country."
The states with the highest death rates from lightning are Florida, Texas and North Carolina. According to NOAA, Florida recorded 1,523 lightning injuries from 1959-2008, 455 of which were fatal. During this time period, Texas recorded 207 fatalities and North Carolina recorded 187.
Oregon experienced 44,354 cloud-to-ground flashes last year and averages around 52,167 per year, according to the National Lightning Detection Network. The state with the most strikes last year was Texas with 2,538,091.
"Oregon averages one lightning flash for every two square miles in a period of a year, so that's a lot less lightning than a place like Florida that has 26 lightning flashes per square mile," Jensenuis said.
Lightning is also a major player during wildfire season, which is just around the corner in Oregon. Lightning can strike as far as ten miles from rainfall and create "sleepers" - hotspots that can smolder for weeks and erupt when conditions are right.
According to an Oregon Department of Forestry press release, a barrage of more than 24,000 lightning strikes in central and southwestern Oregon early this month sparked 32 fires. The early timing, duration and intensity of the storms have fire officials concerned about what will come in the coming months, the release stated.
Despite Oregon's relatively low occurrence of lightning strikes, people should still be cautious when a storm is approaching.
"When thunder roars, go indoors," Joy advises. "You want to stay inside until 30 minutes after you've heard the last thunder."
While inside the home, NOAA recommends you avoid contact with corded phones, electrical equipment and any plumbing. People should also stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. If you are outside during a storm, get into a fully enclosed building or hardtop vehicle at the first rumble of thunder.
"If you're planning an outdoor activity, check the weather ahead of time and be aware of what is forecast," Joy said. "If thunderstorms are forecast, have a plan about how you'd get to safety if a thunderstorm moves in."
Visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov for more information.
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