Public education stressed for new lightning detection system in Ridgewood
Monday December 24, 2012, 10:51 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood safety officials are stressing public education and compliance as they plan upgrades and enhancements to the recently installed lightning detection system at municipal schools and parks.
A joint project between the village and the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE), the installation of lightning detection equipment took place this summer at six locations in the village. Playing fields at Ridgewood High School, Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Hawes and Somerville elementary schools received the system, as did Veterans and Maple fields.
The system has been working well, but according to Ridgewood Police Sgt. Brian Pullman, equipment and hardware is not their concern.
“The interesting problem for us is the enforcement and relying heavily on the users of the fields, the coaches and the parents to make sure that they are listening to the system and obeying the rules,” Pullman said, speaking at a recent Village Council meeting.
When centrally located weather equipment detects a lightning strike within 10 miles, the system triggers several safety measures. Registered users will receive a text and/or email notification stating that a lightning emergency is in effect, while on-field equipment is activated.