How We See It: Storm Leads To Lightning Debate

"The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time."

-- Willie Tyler, American comedian

According to the federal government, lightning kills about 51 people a year and injures hundreds more nationwide. Most people survive, but live the rest of their lives with a variety of long-term, debilitating effects, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The National Weather Service says Arkansas is ranked No. 6 nationally for lightning strikes (averaging more than 850,000 cloud-to-ground flash per year) and No. 4 for the amount of lightning per square mile.

The weather agency said no fatalities were blamed on lightning in 2013, but six people were injured in Arkansas. Between 1959 to 2013, 123 people died and 317 were injured as a result of lightning in Arkansas.

In short, lightning is a weather phenomenon people are best advised not to mess with.

That proves easier said than done. Thunderstorms can appear headed one direction but end up going another. Especially in public settings, reacting too frequently can create a boy-cried-wolf scenario that renders warnings to the public less effective. Public officials must maintain a tough balancing act that certainly errs on the side of safety, but without being overly sensitive.

The issue recently developed in the wake of a July 20 storm that blew through Northwest Arkansas. By all accounts, the storm was a bit freakish. The high winds downed power lines and trees, damaged roofs and caught many folks off guard.

"The storm hit so quickly Wednesday no one was expecting the high wind that proceeded the front. One minute it was still, and the next minute the wind came out of nowhere," said Barney Hayes, Rogers Parks Department director.

At the Rogers Aquatic Center, people were told to get out of the water and take shelter from the wind after it struck, but center officials said their monitoring of weather applications did not show any lightning strikes in the area before the high winds arrived.

One grandmother criticized the pool staff's actions as too slow, but it didn't slow her down. She got her grandkids out before center staff shut the pool down.

"I didn't need anyone to make a decision for me. I just used my common sense," she said.

That, of course, is good advice for any parent or guardian. They know best when it comes to their young charges.

When people have paid to get into a water park or pool, they often don't want to see their good times interrupted, so it is crucial that the people operating these facilities be on guard against the weather and act for safety when those enjoying a good time may delay, delay and delay.

Still, it appears the recent fast-moving storm was far from the norm and perhaps the criticism was misplaced, although a good reminder of the need for constant and careful monitoring. National experts suggest taking cover as a storm approaches, but defining exactly when that makes sense is less than quantifiable. Even the National Weather Service's own public safety campaign advises "when thunder roars, go indoors," yet some say that's too late.The right policies appear to be in place, but the recent storm serves to remind us of the volatility of thunderstorms in Arkansas during the summer months. Certainly a policy of "when in doubt, get them out" would be a wise, potentially life-saving approach.