CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman High School’s (CHS) campus just became a little safer for outdoor activities with the installation this week of a lightning detection system near the school’s athletic fields. The Xtreme Research Corp. Skyscan Fieldpro 2 system installed at the school, according to its instructions, “detects the characteristic electromagnetic emissions from individual lightning strikes and uses patented technology to determine the distance to the detected strike. The distances are indicated in four ranges: 0-3 miles; 3-8 miles; 8-20 miles and 20-40 miles. This allows you to track the approach of dangerous storm activity.” When the system detects a strike within the programmed range, horns will sound at 120 decibels to warn of danger.
Lightning strikes cause around 200 deaths and hundreds more injuries in the U.S. each year. The manufacturer pointed out that lightning strikes can be up to six miles long, and that, by the time people actually begin to hear thunder, the storm is usually within four miles of their location. Lightning deaths and injuries often occur out from the storm itself, where the sky over the victim may still appear clear.
On social media, CHS thanked Sen. Garlan Gudger, R- Cullman for his assistance in getting the system.
On Thursday afternoon, Gudger told The Tribune, “It is from a community service grant that the high school requested through me, through the Senate. They told me why they needed it, and even though they didn’t have the funding for it immediately with everything going on- with virtual schools and trying to reopen schools this year under COVID- I wanted to make sure that they had that and were protected. Of course, any way I can support education, I want to do that, so this is just a small way that I was able to help that particular school that had requested those funds.
“When a parent drops off their child at school, they want to make sure, number one, that they’re safe and that their needs are met. This is one just to keep our children safe.”
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