Community Corner

JJC Installs Lightning Prediction System

System alerts students, staff when a lighting strike is likely and they should take cover.

Just in time for severe weather season — including the thunderstorms that come with spring, Joliet Junior College has installed the "Thor Guard" lightning prediction system at its main campus.

The system is designed to alert students, staff and visitors to the campus, 1215 Houbolt Road, when conditions are right for a lighting strike so they can take shelter in a building or vehicle.

The instrument uses a computer and sensor to monitor the earth’s electrostatic field and detect the possibility of a lightning strike within a two-and-a-half mile radius around the main campus, according to JJC.

When the probability of a cloud-to-ground lightning strike has reached the 30 percent mark, the system will emit an audible alarm and a visible yellow strobe light. When this happens, outdoor college athletic activities and events will come to a halt and participants will be asked to move indoors.

When the Thor Guard system determines that the threat of lightning has passed, the strobe light will cease and three short blasts will sound to alert people that it is safe to resume outdoor activities.

Alert stations are located on G-Building, the athletic fields, East Lot 8, and the Greenhouse. Surrounding businesses and residences will likely be able to hear the alerts as well as anyone on the main campus. The alert system will be active daily between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., JJC said.

The Thor Guard Lightning Prediction System is our latest effort in ensuring the utmost safety for students, staff and visitors on our campus,” said Environmental Health and Safety Manager Ed Vasil. “While not common, when lightning strikes do happen, they can be deadly. Now, thanks to this new system, anyone who is outdoors will have warning that conditions are favorable for lightning and will be able to take shelter. We are one of only a few institutions in the northern Illinois area to use this cutting-edge safety technology. ”

According to the National Lightning Safety Institute, one of every 200 houses will be struck by lightning in a given year, and 1 in 280,000 people will likely be struck by lightning.

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