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NOAA04-R225

Contact: Susan Weaver **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

\(301\) 713-0622 March 17, 2004

**KEEPING THE GAME SAFE --**

**NOAA TEAMS WITH LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL**

**ON LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS**

When the thunder that Little Leaguers hear *is not* the roar of the
crowd, it is time to get inside, because lightning may be close behind.
That's why the U.S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) is
teaming up with Little League Baseball to provide valuable life-saving
information regarding the dangers of lightning.

"NOAA is proud to partner with Little League Baseball on our effort to
educate the public on the dangers of lightning, and particularly the
coaches, umpires, parents, and children who are involved with Little
League Baseball and Softball," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and
atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Lightning is an underrated killer,
claiming, on average, more lives than either tornadoes or hurricanes."

Little League Baseball has been proactive in providing lightning-safety
information to officials across the country through their safety
newsletter, *ASAP (A Safety Awareness Program)*. In their
November/December 2003 newsletter, Little League Baseball included a
copy of a "Coach's and Sports Official's Guide to Lightning Safety,"
developed by NOAA's NWS. Previously, the April 2002 issue of *ASAP*
included an article written by NOAA on lightning safety.

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"The safety of our players, parents, coaches, and spectators is of
utmost importance to us," said Stephen D. Keener, president and chief
executive officer of Little League Baseball and Softball. "Lightning is
one of our greatest concerns on the field, and we appreciate the safety
information that NOAA provides to us. We want everyone involved in
Little League Baseball to understand the dangers of lightning so that
they will take the appropriate action when thunderstorms threaten."

"The bottom line is that if you hear thunder, you need to get inside
immediately," said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson,
director of NOAA's National Weather Service. "Lightning can strike up to
10 miles from a thunderstorm, which is about the distance that the sound
of thunder can travel and be heard. All thunderstorms produce lightning,
and each lightning strike is a potential killer."

Lightning casualties can occur at any time of the year, but are most
frequent in the late spring and summer thunderstorm season, when people
tend to be outside. Annually, about 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning
strikes occur in the United States. From 1971 to 2000, lightning killed
an average of 73 people each year in the United States and injured
hundreds more.

NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data,
forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA's
NWS operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast
system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance
the national economy.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety
through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal
and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: [[http://www.noaa.gov]{.underline}](http://www.noaa.gov/)

NOAA's National Weather Service:
[[http://www.nws.noaa.gov]{.underline}](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/)

NOAA's National Weather Service Lightning Safety Page:
[[http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov]{.underline}](http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/)