National Weather Service

1325 East West Highway Adam Ritchie

Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 427-9117 Head of Lightning Safety

April 12, 2018

Wilbur L. Ross
Secretary of Commerce, US Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
United States

Dear Mr. Ross,

Lightning strikes, thought they do not cause concentrated disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes, are a
serious problem affecting hundreds of Americans every year. According to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States has averaged about 50 deaths and 500 injuries
each year due to lightning strikes. An overwhelming majority of these incidents could have been easily
prevented through proper awareness of lightning safety procedures.

In the past, the National Weather Service (NWS) has put forth seasonal weather safety campaigns to
prepare US citizens for hazardous weather year-round. However, lightning and thunderstorm safety is
somewhat lacking in this series of campaigns. Ideally, a small test campaign would be implemented to
promote lightning safety awareness in a small area (central Florida). As you can see from the image
below, Florida is by far the hot spot in the country for lightning activity and would be the ideal place to
roll out and test a comprehensive public awareness campaign for lightning safety.

Image Source - Vaisala

 National Weather Service
1325 East West Highway Adam Ritchie
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 427-9117 Head of Lightning Safety

I am writing to formally request a small monetary grant to promote lightning safety in schools and in
public places. This would primarily consist of a series of informative and eye-catching posters to be
placed in the aforementioned areas. Additionally, an addition to the curriculum of public schools in
Florida could be considered through collaboration with the Florida Department of Education. It is vitally
important for the health and safety of America’s youth that they are properly educated about the
dangers of lightning and thunderstorms. Not only the should the dangers be presented, but also
appropriate actions to be taken once the warning signs of a thunderstorm are identified.

Specifically, I have a few important inquiries that would greatly facilitate my effort to enable the
vulnerable citizens of our nation to protect themselves from hazardous weather:
1. Would you consider a monetary grant to the NWS in order to promote lightning safety
awareness in Florida?
2. If so, what is your estimated dollar amount for this grant?
3. Is there any more information I can provide to convince you of the necessity of this program and
the impact it will have?

It is important to consider the effectiveness a public awareness campaign will have before automatically
committing to funding one. As you can see from the image below, 81 percent of lightning fatalities in the
group of analyzed cases occurred during leisure or daily routine activities. This indicates that these
fatalities are caused by those who are not aware of the dangers and warning signs of lightning and
thunderstorms, as few rational people would avoid reaching safety to simply prolong their leisure
activities or their daily routine. This indicates that lack of awareness is the primary reason for lighting
related injuries and fatalities.

Image Source - National Weather Service (Jensenius, John)

 National Weather Service
1325 East West Highway Adam Ritchie
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 427-9117 Head of Lightning Safety

Thank you for taking the time to read this request, and I hope you see the benefits that a grant would
provide to the American people.

Sincerely,

Adam Ritchie
National Weather Service
Head of Lightning Safety