[KathieI]

I was at Colony Cottage Rec Center today and they told us that they were hit by lightening also the other day. I think there was a problem with their phones still not working. Hell, I'm moving back to earthquake country !!!

[deano_hoosier]

WSJ article this morning noted that a 50-mile band across central Florida emanating east from Tampa "took the cake" for lightning strikes/sq mile in the US! No wonder The Villages is getting struck. I'm looking for a tinfoil hat to blast out in style!

[bobfl]

When I lived in Southwest Florida I often saw them building stucco homes. They would install steel rods down through the openings in the cinder blocks after the walls were put up to correct level. They then would pour concrete down through the openings to fill them up. While the concrete was soft they then put steel T shaped brackets in to eventually wrap around the joists. I never thought about it before but I wonder if all that metal would cause lightning attraction?

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by bobfl

When I lived in Southwest Florida I often saw them building stucco homes. They would install steel rods down through the openings in the cinder blocks after the walls were put up to correct level. They then would pour concrete down through the openings to fill them up. While the concrete was soft they then put steel T shaped brackets in to eventually wrap around the joists. I never thought about it before but I wonder if all that metal would cause lightning attraction?

I don't believe the steel rods (aka reinforcing steel) is used to correct level; it is to help the poured concrete to strenghten the wall. Doubt that the rebar (aka reinforcing steel) buried in concrete attracts ligntning.

.

I'm a member of the Study Group on Lightning. We would like to learn more about what appears to be a very serious lightning event for the lessons learned that we can use with our Power Point presentation, Lightning Tips for Villagers. Do you know the date when this happended, the address, the owner, was the fire department or paramedics called? Thanks for your help.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by lrhnhl

I'm a member of the Study Group on Lightning. We would like to learn more about what appears to be a very serious lightning event for the lessons learned that we can use with our Power Point presentation, Lightning Tips for Villagers. Do you know the date when this happended, the address, the owner, was the fire department or paramedics called? Thanks for your help.

Since you are buildng what could be a very good tool for Villagers, you may want to consider going directly to the local fire dept and gather statistics and individual event details from them for this particular event as well as others.

Just a thought.

Originally Posted by SteveFromNY

Since you are buildng what could be a very good tool for Villagers, you may want to consider going directly to the local fire dept and gather statistics and individual event details from them for this particular event as well as others.

Just a thought.

We have made a request to the District Department of Public Safety and waiting for a relpy.

[Minnesotalyn]

Does anyone have water problems down there with all the rain you guys get. Is this a concern when building down there?

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by Minnesotalyn

Does anyone have water problems down there with all the rain you guys get. Is this a concern when building down there?

I watched the rainy week - around Memorial Day this past year - when something like 14 inches fell in a week. I marveled at the engineering that went into the underlying infrastructure. Everything drained very quickly. I have to say I did not see any spots with standing water anywhere I went. The retention ponds were more full than I'd ever seen them, but no threat to overfilling. It was said that an 18 month long drout was erased in a week.
The only thing negative that happened were a number of sink holes that developed after the rain. For instance, the grass next to the golf cart path up from my house had a small (1 ft or so) sink hole that was filled in during the next week.
If you want more attention paid to this post you may want to start a new thread with the new title about rain.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by lrhnhl

I'm a member of the Study Group on Lightning. We would like to learn more about what appears to be a very serious lightning event for the lessons learned that we can use with our Power Point presentation, Lightning Tips for Villagers. Do you know the date when this happended, the address, the owner, was the fire department or paramedics called? Thanks for your help.

I don't have any information for your request, but I have one of my own. Please, in your presentations, stress the importance of getting off the course when seeing lightning or hearing thunder. As I am sure you know, contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be close to be a danger. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen golfers continuing to play because "it hasn't started raining", but the lightning is flashing and the thunder is rolling. WFCOL (well for crying out loud), you can come back later or another day. Nobody here is "playing for a green jacket", so it is definitely not more important than your life that you play.

[Grill Meister]

You will have to confirm this with your builder or check it out yourself; however, I am told that the reason houses hit by lightening all burn to the ground is that our natural gas lines run through our attics and when lightening hits our roofs and starts burning, the plastic couplings on the gas lines melt and whooooooooosh.

So, I guess, if our house is hit by lightening, the first thing to do is shut the gas line off....before you retrieve your belongings.

[soonfl]

I know nothing bout this but in an earthquake prone area. I believe these are effective.

Seems to make sense.



http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-I...ss-flow-valves

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Grill Meister

You will have to confirm this with your builder or check it out yourself; however, I am told that the reason houses hit by lightening all burn to the ground is that our natural gas lines run through our attics and when lightening hits our roofs and starts burning, the plastic couplings on the gas lines melt and whooooooooosh.

So, I guess, if our house is hit by lightening, the first thing to do is shut the gas line off....before you retrieve your belongings.

bumping this thread on lightning for information brought up in new thread.

Jes tryin' to hep.

[jblum315]

This thread is from August 2009

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jblum315

This thread is from August 2009

I know, Jblum, but someone just started a new thread on the question and I was trying to find an old one that had some posts from the lightning expert who writes a column in the POA.

I respect your opinion always and your logical mind, jblum, we haven't decided whether to install lightning rods or not. What would you suggest?