Real-Time Lightning Alerts with Alertus Lightning Detection
By Rachel Choppin, Marketing Specialist at Alertus Technologies
Lightning strikes can be unpredictable and deadly for businesses, property, outdoor activities, and more. And while the most common months for lightning strikes and severe storms are in the spring and summer months, preparing ahead of time is crucial. With lightning monitoring devices such as Alertus Lightning Detection, you can better detect and send emergency alerts to your entire population within seconds of a lightning strike.
Below are three ways you can stay ahead and prepare for dangerous lightning strikes and severe storms.
Be Aware and Prepared
Since severe weather and specifically lighting strikes can happen at any moment, it is always a good idea to stay informed of weather events in your region. Following agencies like the National Weather Service is a good place to start. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides up-to-date information on current weather trends, severe weather alerts, and safety tips for many weather events and seasons.
The NWS also holds many awareness and preparedness events nation-wide to emphasize year-round weather preparedness tailored to all seasons and regions. Having accurate, real-time weather updates is key to being aware and prepared.
Practice Now, Not Later
Lightning strikes can happen fast and have dire consequences. That’s why it is important to regularly review and practice your emergency weather preparedness plans as an organization. Make sure that your organization is familiar with the look, sound, and language of the devices used in your mass notification system (MNS) to mitigate confusion during such events. Planning regular drills and tests of your MNS will ensure that everyone knows how to get to their designated safe locations if severe lightning strikes.
Mass Notification Systems and Integrations
Mass notification systems such as Alertus’ are a powerful emergency alerting tool that has unmatched integration capabilities. The Alertus Lightning Detection integrates seamlessly with your mass notification system to launch preset alerts instantly to all designated alerting endpoints, simplifying the deployment process and reducing injuries because of a lack of detection or notification. This is a powerful tool to have in place if your region experiences severe and frequent storms.
How Lightning Detection Works
A sporting event is taking place at a local high school in Silver Spring, MD. A thunderstorm forms and starts its course towards the high school, causing a potentially dangerous situation to those playing/attending the sporting event.
Below is a detailed explanation of how each event is processed and delivered by the Alertus system via our lightning detection component. Initially, the Silver Spring area is in the NO ACTIVITY state.
5:00 p.m. - Lightning strike #1 generates a Lightning Advisory event for the city of Silver Spring. The location of Silver Spring is placed in LIGHTNING ADVISORY state.
5:18 p.m. - Lightning strike #2 is inside the warning zone and generates a Lightning Warning event for Silver Spring. Silver Spring’s state is elevated to LIGHTNING WARNING.
5:50 p.m. - An All Clear (Warning) event is issued for Silver Spring and the location’s state returns to NO ACTIVITY.
Ready?
Whether you’re a large organization with outdoor facilities or a school that holds outdoor events such as sporting games, you need to inform and instruct your employees or students on how to respond and where to go in the event of a severe lightning strike.
For more information about Alertus solutions or how Alertus can help you prepare for a lightning strike, contact your Alertus Sales Rep to get started today.