Lightning Strike Safety Expert Discusses Dangers After Deadly New Jersey Incident

Tragic Lightning Strike at Archery Range

• ⚡ A lightning strike at the Black Knight's Bow Benders archery range in Jackson Township, New Jersey, resulted in a tragedy.
• 💔 Robert Montgomery, a 61-year-old volunteer archery instructor, was killed in the incident.
• 🤕 Several young Cub Scout members from Troop 204 were injured, with one 10-year-old sustaining second-degree burns on his foot.
• 💥 Witnesses described the strike as instantaneous and powerful, with one person being thrown into a tree.

Eyewitness Accounts and Immediate Aftermath

• 🗣️ Survivors recounted the terrifying moment, describing a flash and being thrown to the ground.
• ⚠️ Attendees reported no rain and no immediate warning signs, only distant thunder.
• 🩹 Many of those present were treated for burns and shock, with some requiring hospitalization.

Lightning Safety Expert Advice

• 🎯 Experts from the National Weather Service advise seeking lower points and avoiding higher areas like hills and trees during thunderstorms.
• 🏠 The safest course of action is to make your way to a fully enclosed structure.
• 📊 Lightning tends to strike the tallest object, but not always, making avoidance of any tall objects crucial.

Lightning Strike Statistics and Warnings

• 📈 Nationally, there are typically around 20 lightning strike fatalities per year; 12 have occurred so far this year, with two in New Jersey.
• ⚠️ The National Weather Service considers issuing specific lightning alerts ineffective, as it could dilute the impact of other vital warnings like those for tornadoes.