More North Jersey towns follow Ridgewood ‘s lead and invest in lightning detection systems
Sunday April 21, 2013, 11:46 PM
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Lightning strikes are “a very real danger that people need to be aware of,” says Westwood Mayor John Birkner.
Birkner has been researching lightning detection systems for his town, which is looking to join the growing number of New Jersey communities that already have such systems in place, sounding alarms when dangerous storms are near.
Last year 28 people nationwide were killed by lightning, including three in New Jersey, the second highest number for any state, data show. One lightning victim was a Haworth man struck and killed as he watched his grandson play soccer in Demarest. The other two died on the beach in separate incidents at the Jersey Shore.
In 2006, the previous year New Jersey had three lightning deaths, two were teenagers killed on a soccer field in Montvale.
Detection systems monitor lightning strikes and warn the public when potentially dangerous storms fall within a certain radius of the area. The system typically sets off alarms that have been installed at fields and playgrounds, warning the public to leave those open areas. The system also gives an all-clear signal when the danger has passed.
Cresskill recently installed a lightning detection system, Tenafly is seeking bids for a system for its municipal and school fields, and Westwood is considering a joint purchase of a system with Emerson and Washington Township.
A consortium of eight schools and seven towns in the Northern Valley is solidifying plans for a cooperative purchase of a $200,000 lightning detection system.
Communities including Wayne, Rutherford, Ridgefield, Dumont, Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus already have systems in place.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/Towns_heed_alarm_for_lightning_.html
great idea. just need to get the one fixed at Hawes so it doesn’t go off at 11:00 pm.
Why follow our lead when the system is known to be broken and nobody is bothering to fix it? The ref now doesn’t even stop soccer games when the light is flashing (and the alarm is failing to sound).
The way it was explained to me, if the lights are on, get off the field. Ridgewood coaches should know this and take heed. There is also the option to get a text message whenever the lights go on – each league should have instructions on getting this information out to the coaches.
I think the alarm sounds when they first go on and again when the all clear is given (three bells I think).
Two Questions:
1. Exactly how many people have be struck (let alone killed) by lightning in Ridgewood over the past 50 years? the past 100 years?
2. Are coaches so ignorant that they cannot figure out when to stop a game due to impending weather or is it that parents are so litigious that everyone is willing to risk our children’s lives with faulty technology over more reliable albeit imperfect humans?
The value of the system, when functioning properly, is in its ability to supplement our imperfect ability to perceive an elevated risk of a lightning strike. Sometimes lightning strikes literally out of the blue, extending sideways many, many miles to complete the circuit that results in the electrical discharge that is a bolt of lightning. The system can notify us of the risk of this type of lightning, which is a big reason why I’m happy we have it in Ridgewood. For Pete’s sake though, why go to the trouble and expense of installing such a system in the first place if we can’t budget the incremental extra time or money to maintain it properly? At this rate, we risk the system viewed by local athletes, parents and coaches as a no-value nuisance!
Ridgewood’s lead??…..you’re kidding, right?
Question 1…. still no answer.
1. Exactly how many people have be struck (let alone killed) by lightning in Ridgewood over the past 50 years? the past 100 years?