Lightning detection: Is an alert system feasible?
A healthy debate surrounding the necessity versus inessential need for lightning monitoring systems on beachfronts will be topics of discussion in the near future for local government agencies. The matter has arisen in light of the recent lightning fatality and injuries on Fort Myers Beach.
On Tuesday, Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker stated he will ask his fellow commissioners for approval to act as a liaison among county officials to look into the feasibility of placing a lightning alert system at county beachfront parks. If agreed, he hopes to coordinate that activity with other local government representatives and staff members who have knowledge on the subject.
Kiker believes the timing may be appropriate for discussion.
“I would like to come up with some kind of process that the Board and Town, for example, could make a first attempt to find out if this is feasible,” said Kiker.
Kiker admits the conversation has to include Bonita Springs, Sanibel and all the other Lee County beachfront communities.
“If it is good for one, it is probably good for others,” he said. “From a County perspective, we have to include everyone inside the County boundaries.”
Kiker recently spoke to Lee County Parks & Recreation Director Dave Harner and learned the topic of possibly providing county beachfront properties with such lightning alert systems has been brought up beforehand.
“There are so many different things involved. Everyone just needs to understand the significant issues,” Kiker warned.
One of the issues is funding. Kiker said don’t expect monies to come from the Lee County Tourist Development Council. If approved down the road, Kiker said general funds from property tax collections would be tapped.
Another issue is legal ramifications. If the system is put in place and doesn’t work during a given storm and injury or fatality occurs due to a lightning strike, is the government agency liable?
“If the system doesn’t work, we need to investigate if we just accepted liability for an ‘act of God’,” Kiker said flatly.
Yet another issue centers around the natural habitat. During the rainy summer months, birds and sea turtles nest on area beaches. Loud horns could disturb such delicate creatures.
“Just on Fort Myers Beach alone, there is bird nesting that is very sensitive,” said Kiker. “You can be certain there are going to be conversations including environmentalists about what the effects of these horns would have on these birds.”
Many area school systems and mainland parks do have some sort of lightning alert systems in place.
Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais pointed out the controllability issue. Resources to enforce a high volume beach like Fort Myers Beach also would be difficult.
“In the parks, we have very finite control,” he said. “We can enforce rules that say when the horn goes off there is lightning within 10 miles and parents and children have to go to their cars for safety. And, you don’t get to come back onto the fields until a certain amount of time passes without lightning strike.
“When people are on the beach, I don’t believe there is a way to enforce evacuating it when a horn goes off. We certainly don’t have any jurisdiction when people are in the water. We have to ask the question ‘what’s the difference in liability for that kind of system versus what we have in the parks’?”