In Anne Arundel County a new device meant to protect student athletes from severe weather is being implemented for the first time. It’s a system that can detect lightning from miles away providing warning before it arrives. All 13 high schools in Anne Arundel County now have the new alert system that detects lightning and saves lives.Brain Kellner is the baseball coach at Glen Burnie High School.”Once that siren goes off, we’re (going to) know It’s time to seek shelter,” Kellner said. The small device takes the guess work out of storm detection and the decision out of the coaches’ hands. Until now it was their judgement call when to leave the field. “The sky started looking darker and we’re checking radar on our cell phones, and it was did you hear thunder did you see lightning and there was a certain degree of uncertainty with if there was a storm in the area,” Kellner said. If the new system detects lightning within an eight-mile radius. The alarm will sound, and a strobe light will go on telling everyone to get inside. “The strobe light will stay lit for 30 minutes and then after 30 minutes if no lightning is detected then people can come back into the stadium if lighting is detected then that time will start again,” Bob Mosier, the chief communications officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said. The system will be active from seven in the morning until ten at night and anyone using the fields including county recreation teams and anyone outside in earshot will benefit. What it really comes down to is safety and student athletes say it will help them focus on the game instead of the skies. “If we have something that is telling us definitely, yeah we have to go in its definitely playing a big part in how we feel and we don’t have to feel like we’re worried about anything else other than what we’re doing right there,” Karen Morales, a 12th grade soccer and lacrosse player.”These coaches only really go by what they see in the clouds over there so when they’re looking over there they say ‘oh my god I see lightning, we’re kind of iffy,'” Timothy Shadare, an 11th-grade football player, said. “So, I feel like it’s really going to help the coaches and the kids be safe.”The systems were just installed and haven’t been used yet but they are ready to go for the spring and summer sports seasons. Anne Arundel County Schools is also adding tabs to their website where you can check the status of any of the lightning detectors.
In Anne Arundel County a new device meant to protect student athletes from severe weather is being implemented for the first time.
It’s a system that can detect lightning from miles away providing warning before it arrives. All 13 high schools in Anne Arundel County now have the new alert system that detects lightning and saves lives.
Brain Kellner is the baseball coach at Glen Burnie High School.
“Once that siren goes off, we’re (going to) know It’s time to seek shelter,” Kellner said.
The small device takes the guess work out of storm detection and the decision out of the coaches’ hands. Until now it was their judgement call when to leave the field.
“The sky started looking darker and we’re checking radar on our cell phones, and it was did you hear thunder did you see lightning and there was a certain degree of uncertainty with if there was a storm in the area,” Kellner said.
If the new system detects lightning within an eight-mile radius. The alarm will sound, and a strobe light will go on telling everyone to get inside.
“The strobe light will stay lit for 30 minutes and then after 30 minutes if no lightning is detected then people can come back into the stadium if lighting is detected then that time will start again,” Bob Mosier, the chief communications officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said.
The system will be active from seven in the morning until ten at night and anyone using the fields including county recreation teams and anyone outside in earshot will benefit. What it really comes down to is safety and student athletes say it will help them focus on the game instead of the skies.
“If we have something that is telling us definitely, yeah we have to go in its definitely playing a big part in how we feel and we don’t have to feel like we’re worried about anything else other than what we’re doing right there,” Karen Morales, a 12th grade soccer and lacrosse player.
“These coaches only really go by what they see in the clouds over there so when they’re looking over there they say ‘oh my god I see lightning, we’re kind of iffy,'” Timothy Shadare, an 11th-grade football player, said. “So, I feel like it’s really going to help the coaches and the kids be safe.”
The systems were just installed and haven’t been used yet but they are ready to go for the spring and summer sports seasons. Anne Arundel County Schools is also adding tabs to their website where you can check the status of any of the lightning detectors.
