Michael Utley says there's nowhere safe outside during a thunderstorm.
He should know. Ten years ago, lightning struck the Altoona native, stopping his heart as he played golf in Cape Cod, Mass.
Sunday night's tragedy at Pocono Raceway, where lightning killed one person and injured nine others, was the state's second such fatality this year and a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather.
Brian F. Zimmerman, a 41-year-old Moosic man, was struck as he stood near his car in the parking lot around 5 p.m., according to a raceway news release. Nine others were hit, and a subsequent strike injured another person.
After a long recovery Mr. Utley calls a "modern miracle," the Massachusetts resident founded Struck By Lightning, an organization that promotes lightning safety.
Mr. Utley said large sporting venues face an especially hard task protecting fans from storms. People are vulnerable if they stay outside, he said, but evacuating a large crowd can also prove dangerous.
"It's a very tough call," he said.
The track said it warned the crowd several times to take cover, but some said they didn't hear the warnings. The track posted a warning on Twitter advising fans to seek shelter at 4:21 p.m., about nine minutes after the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning.
Last year, lightning killed 26 people and injured 187 in the United States, according to NWS data.
Pennsylvania's 132 fatalities since 1959 rank the state ninth-highest in the country, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. That amounts to about two fatalities a year.
Mr. Utley said people need to go into a building or a car as soon as they hear thunder. Contrary to some myths, crouching low to the ground and seeking shelter under a tree actually increases the risk of electrocution, according to the NWS.
Lightning typically hits the ground about 20,000 times an hour nationwide, said Alan Cope of the National Weather Service Forecast Office.
Fatalities have dropped significantly over time because of better medical technology, he said.
Lightning strikes "all the time" at the Wilkes-Barre Municipal Golf Course, said Chris Mathews, the course's head golf pro. Fortunately, no one has been hit.
"It's more lucky than anything," Mr. Mathews said. "There's a lot of times where people aren't coming in (when a storm is near)." Severe weather safety tips
The National Weather Service suggests the following safety tips:
- If you hear thunder, go inside. You are likely within range of lightning strikes.
- A safe building is fully enclosed with a roof, walls and floor and has plumbing and wiring. Vehicles with metal roofs and sides are also safe. Picnic shelters, patios and similar structures will not protect you.
- Getting close to the ground or under a tree actually increases danger. If you are stuck outside, run toward a safe shelter.
- Wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder to go outside
For more info, visit lightningsafety.noaa.gov.