Full cost for lightning detection revealed
A relatively complete cost analysis to fund lightning alert systems along the beachfront of Fort Myers Beach -amount for the device, electrical hook-ups and maintenance- was disclosed during a Public Safety Committee workshop Friday.
Town Public Works Director Scott Baker and Administrative Specialist Chelsea O’Reilly provided a detailed power point presentation on lightning detection and reported the full estimated cost for the WeatherBug system (install 17 outdoor alerting systems along seven miles, install one weather station system, email and text alert capabilities, 24/7 monitoring) to be $124,011.93, but jumped to $431,675.55 -nearly 3.5 times the cost of the system and installation alone- once 17 required concrete poles, service meter and panel and related costs ($18,097.86 per pole) were factored in. Maintenance and out-of-town permitting costs (county, DOT) are extra.
Two other alternatives to a full island coverage scheme were presented. One involving a “limited island” approach (10 poles; not on northern island section) was estimated to be $323,090,38. The third option that would cover Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, Beach Elementary and outlining area and cost roughly $6,981,29 was more accepted.
The reason for the workshop was to prepare for an upcoming joint work session with Town Council. The justification for a lightning warning system has become the major task of the public safety committee.
“It seems this is becoming some kind of a political issue now,” said PSC Chairman Bruce Butcher. “Other jurisdictions are getting involved. I think our job is to present facts as we understand them and decision makers will make their decisions.”
Safety committee member Tony Scopel referred to a recent “sidewalk survey” he administered and revealed that many non-North Americans are unaware of the severity of lightning strikes. Others do not fully understand the physics of lightning, such as strikes occur even with a clear sky. Education could take care of that.
“I don’t think (signage) is enough,” said committee member Al Durrett.
On July 22, a lightning strike along the FMB beachfront left one person dead and two injured during a heavy afternoon rainstorm. The PSC has been looking into lightning detection for roughly one year.
A lightning detection system was defined as “a device that detects lightning produced by thunderstorms” using ground-based detectors to “calculate the location, type and severity of lightning using radio direction-finding techniques” by way of “triangulation from multiple locations” to determine location and type of strike.
In a perfect world, systems would cover beachfronts, school, parks, playground, Beach Pier, waterways including marinas and the mooring field, outdoor seating at restaurants and entertainment areas as well as pedestrian sidewalks and bikeways.
Bay Oaks, including the Town pool, may be a good start as far as a trial basis, since it is a Town property and internally permitted, says Baker.
“We’ve learned why we think it’s a good idea. I really like Scott’s idea as Bay Oaks as a trial to learn about the system and learn the cost to maintain it and install it,” said Butcher.
“When we started this thing, I thought if we got Bay Oaks covered that would be an accomplishment of the whole group,” added Durrett, who is looking at a system at his Fish-Tale Marina business.
The presentation included current warnings that are issued: red tide advisory; toxic/contaminated water, boil water notice, dangerous surf, rip tides, severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, small craft advisories, heat index, high pollen, hurricane evacuation, nesting turtles, restricted areas for bird nesting, stingray warning and jellyfish warnings.
“The public is used to be warned about a wide variety of things,” said Butcher.
Detractors to lightning alert systems express potential concerns, such as wildlife, legal issues, maintenance, effectiveness, installation and overall nuisance, especially if horns go off at midnight.
Discussions also centered on liability. Power outages on the Beach are common during heavy storms.
H. Michael Mogil, a certified consulting meteorologist out of Naples, gave his viewpoints during public comment. In his job, he stated he is now working four legal cases that involve weather-related fatalities.
“I think a lightning system is putting a false sense of security on the beach. If it fails, there will be a lawsuit,” he said.
Mogil stated there have been 10 people struck and killed by lightning in 65 years. He would like to see lifeguards and other Bay Oaks personnel trained about lightning detection instead of a system placed there.
“If they know the skies, they will know lightning is nearby and be able to react,” Mogil said.
He referenced several times he has witnessed storms or approaching storms where nobody reacts. A golf course behind his home has a Thor Guard lightning system installed, but when the horns go off, many people remain on the course.
“Nobody is there telling them to leave,” he said. “People should be able to have self-responsibility. I think people know when it’s dark in the middle of the day, there is a thunderstorm (coming).”
It is still unclear when Council members will address this matter officially. Lee County mayors have met with Commissioner Larry Kiker and discussed the issue, and the safety committee may weigh in more on the subject at their regularly scheduled meeting today (Wednesday, Sept. 10) at 9 a.m. Both set of Town officials are expecting to come together in the near future.
“We will have this discussion and see where it goes,” said Butcher.
Full cost for lightning detection revealed
A relatively complete cost analysis to fund lightning alert systems along the beachfront of Fort Myers Beach -amount for the device, electrical hook-ups and maintenance- was disclosed during a Public Safety Committee workshop Friday.
Town Public Works Director Scott Baker and Administrative Specialist Chelsea O’Reilly provided a detailed power point presentation on lightning detection and reported the full estimated cost for the WeatherBug system (install 17 outdoor alerting systems along seven miles, install one weather station system, email and text alert capabilities, 24/7 monitoring) to be $124,011.93, but jumped to $431,675.55 -nearly 3.5 times the cost of the system and installation alone- once 17 required concrete poles, service meter and panel and related costs ($18,097.86 per pole) were factored in.
Maintenance and out-of-town permitting costs (county, DOT) are extra.
Two other alternatives to a full island coverage scheme were presented. One involving a “limited island” approach (10 poles; not on northern island section) was estimated to be $323,090,38. The third option that would cover Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, Beach Elementary and outlining area and cost roughly $6,981,29 was more accepted.
The reason for the workshop was to prepare for an upcoming joint work session with Town Council. The justification for a lightning warning system has become the major task of the public safety committee.
“It seems this is becoming some kind of a political issue now,” said PSC Chairman Bruce Butcher. “Other jurisdictions are getting involved. I think our job is to present facts as we understand them and decision makers will make their decisions.”
Safety committee member Tony Scopel referred to a recent “sidewalk survey” he administered and revealed that many non-North Americans are unaware of the severity of lightning strikes. Others do not fully understand the physics of lightning, such as strikes occur even with a clear sky. Education could take care of that.
“I don’t think (signage) is enough,” said committee member Al Durrett.
On July 22, a lightning strike along the FMB beachfront left one person dead and two injured during a heavy afternoon rainstorm. The PSC has been looking into lightning detection for roughly one year.
A lightning detection system was defined as “a device that detects lightning produced by thunderstorms” using ground-based detectors to “calculate the location, type and severity of lightning using radio direction-finding techniques” by way of “triangulation from multiple locations” to determine location and type of strike.
In a perfect world, systems would cover beachfronts, school, parks, playground, Beach Pier, waterways including marinas and the mooring field, outdoor seating at restaurants and entertainment areas as well as pedestrian sidewalks and bikeways.
Bay Oaks, including the Town pool, may be a good start as far as a trial basis, since it is a Town property and internally permitted, says Baker.
“We’ve learned why we think it’s a good idea. I really like Scott’s idea as Bay Oaks as a trial to learn about the system and learn the cost to maintain it and install it,” said Butcher.
“When we started this thing, I thought if we got Bay Oaks covered that would be an accomplishment of the whole group,” added Durrett, who is looking at a system at his Fish-Tale Marina business.
The presentation included current warnings that are issued: red tide advisory; toxic/contaminated water, boil water notice, dangerous surf, rip tides, severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, small craft advisories, heat index, high pollen, hurricane evacuation, nesting turtles, restricted areas for bird nesting, stingray warning and jellyfish warnings.
“The public is used to be warned about a wide variety of things,” said Butcher.
Detractors to lightning alert systems express potential concerns, such as wildlife, legal issues, maintenance, effectiveness, installation and overall nuisance, especially if horns go off at midnight.
Discussions also centered on liability. Power outages on the Beach are common during heavy storms.
H. Michael Mogil, a certified consulting meteorologist out of Naples, gave his viewpoints during public comment. In his job, he stated he is now working four legal cases that involve weather-related fatalities.
“I think a lightning system is putting a false sense of security on the beach. If it fails, there will be a lawsuit,” he said.
Mogil stated there have been 10 people struck and killed by lightning in 65 years. He would like to see lifeguards and other Bay Oaks personnel trained about lightning detection instead of a system placed there.
“If they know the skies, they will know lightning is nearby and be able to react,” Mogil said.
He referenced several times he has witnessed storms or approaching storms where nobody reacts. A golf course behind his home has a Thor Guard lightning system installed, but when the horns go off, many people remain on the course.
“Nobody is there telling them to leave,” he said. “People should be able to have self-responsibility. I think people know when it’s dark in the middle of the day, there is a thunderstorm (coming).”
It is still unclear when Council members will address this matter officially. Lee County mayors have met with Commissioner Larry Kiker and discussed the issue, and the safety committee may weigh in more on the subject at their regularly scheduled meeting today (Wednesday, Sept. 10) at 9 a.m. Both set of Town officials are expecting to come together in the near future.
“We will have this discussion and see where it goes,” said Butcher.