Information Visit www.firewise.org to learn more about Firewise and its importance to TGO
Lightning Is The Culprit
by Ed Brown
You probably know that Florida is the Lightning Capital of the U.S. There are 3,500 lightning strikes in Florida each day! Many of these strikes are a source of ignition for the 1,730 wildfires in our state each year. Potential St. John’s River Flood Plain wildfires, at our back and side doors, are an ever-present possibility. So what exactly is lightning? You may have experienced the surprising static electrical discharge after sliding across a car seat on a cold, dry day. As your hand approaches a good ground in the car, a spark jumps. That is lightning on a small scale. On a larger scale, outdoors, wind and rising thermals can carry negative electrical charges from the earth’s surface up into the atmosphere. The negative charge builds up and will eventually jump to a positive ground within the cloud (cloud to cloud lightning) or to the surface of the earth or specific objects (cloud to ground lightning). In December, a small thunder squall took out electricity for much of TGO for several hours. The heat of explosively expanding air is what causes the thunder clap. If you count the seconds between flash and bang, then multiply by 1000 feet per second (roughly speed of sound), you can tell the proximity of the storm to your location and judge whether it is getting closer or departing. If the flash and bang continue to be concurrent (rare), perhaps a small prayer would be appropriate too! The voltage of a lightning strike can be over 3000 volts. The temperature can exceed that of the surface of the Sun! The odds of being struck by lightning are slim: only 27 people per year in the U.S. Only about 3% result in fatality. A place of refuge in a lightning storm would be inside the steel cage which is your car (convertibles don’t qualify). Avoid sheltering under trees, being in the water, leaning on a chain link fence or standing in an open field. Get off that aluminum ladder! This would be an inappropriate time to inspect and clean your gutters! Of far more practical concern is what a lightning strike can do to your home electronics. It can fry your computer, your TV and your land lines (if you have them). When a lightning storm is imminent, turn off, unplug and take cover indoors! If you see someone fall from a lightning strike, get them and yourself to a safe spot. The victim will not be carrying a charge. Check for breathing and heartbeat; if none: clear airway and start CPR. Have a “helper” get an AED. (We have seven in TGO. “The Happenings” lists the AED locations on page 10). Draft another “helper” to call 911. Continue CPR. Lightning is a “culprit.” It is also a source of wonder and natural beauty, if we are FIREWISE and keep our roofs, gutters and our grounds free of flammable materials. Visit Firewise.org to learn more about Firewise and its importance to our community. Our Firewise Program is coordinated by the TGO Firewise Committee, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm in the TGO Conference Room. All residents of The Great Outdoors are welcome to attend.
The T.G. Carlson Nature Center building houses the Nature Center museum, library, meeting room and a kitchen. The building also has a climate controlled enclosed porch where you can relax, read a book or have a bug-free picnic lunch. The building is open to TGO residents, renters and their guests seven days a week from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. This building went from an old camp site to a new modern concrete building. See how it transformed and learn more about the history of the Nature Museum at: www.tgonaturecenter.org
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