JUNE 15 - 21, 2010
Park gets equipment to predict lightning BY GARY ALAN RUSE
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lorida, the lightning capital of the world, ranks first in lightning-related deaths, and the Village of Palmetto Bay is working to prevent one of those incidents for occurring here. Palmetto Bay Park now is protected by Thor Guard, a lightning prediction system which advises park-goers and area residents when to seek shelter and when the coast is clear. The system covers a 12-mile radius, and can predict both ground strikes and cloud-to-cloud strikes in the electrostatic atmosphere. According to statistics compiled by NOAA, in the period from 1959 to 1994 there were 1,523 people killed or injured
Students celebrate as school comes to end
One day effort offers special incentives to share the ride BY MICHAEL GOODMAN
I
Southwood Middle School grads Jackie Nunez (left) and Kirin Pino mark the last day of school in a wild and foamy, but supervised, celebration at Coral Reef Park.
n these challenging economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money. Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran, South Florida Commuter Services, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/TriRail and Florida Department of Transportation have announced that they will join with other public transportation systems nationwide to encourage people to share the ride and try public transportation as a viable cost-saving option on Thursday, June 17. “Riding public transportation or choosing to carpool is a great way for people to save money,” said James Udvardy, project director of South Florida Commuter Services. “We are encouraging everyone to join us in this
(Photo courtesy: Village of Palmetto Bay)
Parks and Recreation supervisor Kenny Grybel is pictured with the new lightning safety equipment at Palmetto Bay Park. Inset: One of the sensor and horn arrays, located atop the park office.
by lightning strikes in Florida, more than twice the amount for any other state. There were 105 injuries in Florida in 1996 alone. The new system — appropriately named for Thor, the Norse god of thunder — was put in place and activated on Friday, June 4. The horn can be heard from a distance of up to 800 yards, according to Kenny Grybel, Parks and Recreation supervisor. “It covers all Palmetto Bay Park,” Grybel said. “The siren itself will disperse out farther to the neighborhood communities who should also be aware, but mainly it picks up this park.” Grybel said that residents living near the park and people in businesses close
enough to hear the blare of the warning horns should take heed and seek shelter if an alert sounds. “We encourage people to pay attention to the sirens if they have kids in pools or people outside,” Grybel said. “Lightning strikes can happen with a storm when it looks dark or it can happen when it’s sunny out. This system can give people an advantage and give them time to get to safety. One sensor array is atop the park office while a second is located above the pavilion at the south end of the park. If the ––––––––––––––––––––– See
LIGHTNING, page 4
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RIDE, page 4
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