My name is Rick O'Keefe and I live in Tampa, Florida.
Central Florida is the North American lightning capitol.
As the founder and co-moderator of the Lightning Protection, Power Quality, and Keraunic Medicine Technical Forum (LP/PQ)
-- http://bit.ly/2D0hlTD --
I know something about lightning and the damage it does worldwide. While our listserv is a 501c3 non-profit in need of donations, I also donate to African Centres for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network - ACLENet to support their lifesaving work in Africa.
With our help, ACLENet.org can continue saving lives and making a difference throughout Africa through. Education
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
Assisting Governments
Research and Application
Our THANKS to Dr Frederick O'Keefe, a lightning safety professional and ACLENet DONOR for his support and creation of this message.
Lightning kills in many ways --
Most Africans have no 'lightning safe' place they can go to when thunderstorms occur.
In the US, we say 'When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors' but that is the WRONG thing to say in sub-Saharan Africa where nearly 90% of the dwelling are made of sheet metal or mud brick with roofs of generations-old, tinder-dry thatch or metal sheets held down by rocks and tires in the mistaken belief that the 'rubber' tires will protect from lightning strikes.
Even when people move to the city in search of employment, they will often live in 'shantytowns' like Soweto, South Africa, for many years before they can establish themselves and afford better housing.
For those in rural areas, lightning can cause a temporary paralysis that can prevent even the healthiest people from escaping their homes, resulting in death as parts of the burning thatch roof falls on them. There are many news reports in developing countries of neighbors responding to screams but being unable to rescue their friends due to the intensity of the lightning ignited fire.
