Lightning detection systems installed at Homewood pools and sports complexes

DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. WE’RE AT ONE OF THEM. WE’RE AT THE HOMEWOOD CITY POOL JUST BEHIND ME HERE OVER MY SHOULDER IS WHERE THAT LIGHTNING DETECTING SYSTEM IS NOW. IT’S BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND YOU CAN FIND THEM AT OTHER FACILITIES LIKE THEIR SPORTS COMPLEXES. NOW, WE’VE BEEN TOLD TO THEY’RE ALREADY PROVING TO WORK. THEY WE HAVE THEM TEST IT FOR US TODAY. AND THERE’S NO WAY YOU’LL MISS THIS SOUND. THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE AT A HOMEWOOD CITY POOL OR SPORTS FACILITY. AND LIGHTNING STRIKES EIGHT MILES AWAY, YOU WILL KNOW FOR SURE WHEN YOU HEAR THIS SOUND. IT’S A LOUD SYSTEM. BUT WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING, I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE IS OKAY, A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE THAT MAY SAVE LIVES WHEN SEVERE WEATHER HITS. JACOB STEVENS IS THE CITY’S PARKS AND RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT WITH, YOU KNOW, THESE COACHES THERE. THEY’RE OUT COACHING AND NOT NECESSARILY WASHING THEIR PHONE. SO THIS THIS WILL SOUND ALERT TO MAKE THEM KNOW THAT IT’S IT’S IN THE AREA IN VANCE OVER THE WEEKEND, A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AT A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. SHE’S AT HOME DOING OKAY NOW AFTER A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL. FATHER OF THREE, MATT WAYNE SAYS SEEING THESE LIGHTNING DETECTION DEVICES IS GOOD. I THINK THAT’S A GREAT THING. HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS. STEVENS SAYS ONCE THE SYSTEM DETECTS LIGHTNING WITHIN EIGHT MILES OF ANY HOMEWOOD SPORTS COMPLEX OR PULL, A 15 SECOND HORN WILL GO OFF. STEVENS SAYS PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO WAIT IN THEIR CARS. A STROBE LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO FLASH FOR 30 MINUTES AND PEOPLE CAN WATCH A COUNTDOWN ONLINE UNTIL IT’S SAFE TO COME BACK OUT. IF LIGHTNING CONTINUES TO STRIKE, THE 30 MINUTE COUNTDOWN STARTS OVER. THERE’S BEEN TIMES WHERE THE LIFEGUARD HAVE HEARD THUNDER AND IT BE 35, 40 MILES AWAY. SO IT KIND OF IT TAKES AWAY THE ARGUMENTS WITH PATRONS OF THERE’S NOTHING IN THE AREA. SO IT KIND OF MAKES EVERYTHING MORE ACCOUNTABLE. RIGHT NOW, HOMEWOOD HAS THIS DETECTION SYSTEM ONLY GOING OFF DURING OPERATION HOURS. SO HERE AT THE POOL, IT WILL START AROUND 7 A.M. AND END AROUND 8:00, DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME SPORTS GAMES AND PRACTICES ARE OVER AT THOSE COMPLEXES. AND WE’LL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE LINK TO THAT COUNTDOWN ON OUR WVTM 13 APP SO YOU CAN HAVE IT HANDY IN CASE YOU’RE AT ANY OF HOMEWOOD FACILITIES THAT HAVE THIS DETECTION SYSTEM. WE’RE LIVE