[TenTec] Fw: [Skywarn] National Weather Service Facility Hit By Lightning

[k3hx@juno.com]

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http://www.theiowachannel.com//weather/4666250/detail.html  - video
available

NWS Employee indirectly hit - Worker Expects To Return To Work Thursday

JOHNSTON, Iowa -- The National Weather Service bureau in Johnston was struck
by lightning Wednesday morning.

A NWS employee took an indirect lightning hit at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

It happened as meteorologists were tracking storms. Turns out they could see
one out the window.

Jeff Johnson was working inside the building doing severe weather operations
when the strike occurred.

"It happened so fast, all you see is the bright light," Johnson said.

Rob DeRoy, who also works at the National Weather Service, said the
lightning strike came through the floor of the building and up the side of
the wall where Johnson was working.

"It was quite a sensation. [I] never had anything like that happen in my
life," he said.

As part of his job at the NWS, he watches for severe weather and promotes
keeping safe from lightning.

"It's pretty amazing to be working at the National Weather Service and get
hit by lightning on the job," he said.

Right after the lightning hit, Johnson told coworkers that he felt odd and
something was wrong and he felt a tingling feeling, NewsChannel 8 reported.

Johnson's family arrived and took him to the hospital as a precaution.

The strike also caused problems at the NWS. Several of the bureau's
computers went down and crews are working to restore them.

The strike was part of a fast-moving storm that did not produce much
lightning.

The Johnston fire chief talked about the irony of the situation.

"It's like the fire station that catches fire. It always brings up the
antennas when you hear something like that," said Jim Krohse, Johnston's
fire chief. "Unfortunately, every building in the world is susceptible to
it."

Johnson said he feels fine and expects to return to work Thursday.

This is the second time the NWS has been struck. The other strike happened
last year.

Gregory S. Williams
k4hsm at knology.net
 


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