Tulsa Public Schools
Thor Guard Lightning Prediction System
Purpose:
Tulsa Public Schools considers the safety of its students, staff and visitors to our campuses its top
priority. As many of us are aware, Oklahoma’s climate can undergo rapid changes in a moment’s notice.
Lightning is an electrical discharge that reaches 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 4 times as hot as
the surface of the sun. According to the U.S. National Weather Service, 73 people die from lightning
strikes each year and hundreds more suffer life-debilitating injuries, such as memory loss, attention
deficits, sleep disorders, numbness, dizziness, and weakness. Due to the many thunderstorms and
tornado activity in Oklahoma, lightning threats are considered some of the most serious threats to health
and safety of any weather related event.
Lightning obviously is of major concern to this School District and must be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, some of the most vulnerable areas to lightning strikes are on our school campuses
because of their open areas, i.e., football stadiums, baseball and soccer fields, and parking lots. As a
result, this School District ordered the installation of the Thor Guard lightning “prediction” system.
The Thor Guard system is a Lightning “predictor” which measures and analyzes the electrostatic field in
the atmosphere and ground to predict the risk of a possible lightning strike. The system consists of
sensors placed at school sites that measure electrostatic charges at ground level and in the atmosphere.
When those two charges become very diverse, the chances of lightning increase dramatically. The
benefit of a Lightning Prediction system over a Lightning Detection system is that lightning prediction
senses and evaluates the shifts and changes in the electrostatic field that precede the occurrence of an
actual lightning strike. The system predicts the probability of a lightning hazard in an area up to 25
square miles. More importantly, it also provides a specific reading of the risk in your immediate area.
Couple the prediction capability of the Thor Guard system with their interactive horn warning system,
and you has a true automatic advance warning package. This system will warn of a possible lightning
strike, even on a sunny day. This kind of event is referred to as a “bolt out of the blue,” a condition
where very powerful lightning discharges may occur even with no visible clouds in the immediate area.
When conditions indicate that lightning occurrence is probable, a signal is sent to an alarm horn.
Thor Guard has installed a combination of Base Lightning Prediction Computers, sensors, remote horns
and strobe warning devices on several of our school campuses throughout the Tulsa Public School
District. The active hours of each of the Base systems were set to begin monitoring at 6 a.m. and end at
11 p.m. each day. Each of these Base systems are set at a twelve (12) mile outside radius of each of our
schools, which provides caution and early warning advisories, and a two (2) mile radius, which control
the high level warning and the Red alert horns (a 15-second Blast) and the All Clear Horn (3 five second
blasts). These levels are all produced by the energy which creates lightning, not the lightning occurrence
(detection). The Red alert horns (a 15-second Blast) provide an 8- to-20 minute advance warning,
allowing those in the area sufficient time to clear-out and seek shelter. The sounds from the horns are
distinctly different from any current public alarm tones. The normal range of one "horn cluster" (six airhorns) is 700-800 yards, in a 360° pattern.
Adopted 2012, Rev. Sept. 2015
Thor Guard has also installed network software on desktop within the Tulsa Public Schools Campus
Police Communications and Security Center headquartered at ESC. This network software provides the
opportunity to monitor the direction and closeness of lightning danger and begin making plans to seek
shelter.
Procedure:
Any person who is utilizing the property of Tulsa Public Schools and who becomes aware of a Thor
Guard lightning activation must clear the property immediately. The school district strongly urges any
parties on school property that in such conditions all parties seek safety and shelter. No person should
consider it safe to remain on the open school property once a Thor Guard alert is given.
It is important to note that lightning does not need to be visible before a warning is given. The
Thor Guard system will respond to subtle migrations of potentially dangerous energy.
If it is the opinion of the Administrator, staff, teacher, coach, referee, or the general public that the
weather situation is not safe, do not wait for horns to activate – CLEAR THE AREA! Take appropriate
shelter anytime lightning is seen, or thunder is heard. Although each one of us has to take responsibility
for our own safety when dangerous weather conditions are detected, the school District utilizes this
sophisticated Thor Guard prediction system to provide additional warning. It should not be considered
as the sole means of protection and defense of a person’s safety.
If someone is struck, immediately call 911; ask for Medical Assistance and the Tulsa Fire Department to
respond to the scene.
Sample text of e-mail message sent upon activation of a Thor Guard monitor:
[SITE NAME] - LIGHTNING ALERT ------------------ DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS
EMAIL
A lightning threat has been detected near or is approaching this location. If you or
persons you know are using the outdoor properties of this site, please take shelter or
notify others to take shelter. Evacuate the outdoor properties immediately.
Move inside a substantial fully enclosed building or structure. If a building is not
available close by, take shelter inside a motor vehicle with a metal roof (making sure
you are not touching metal). Avoid high places, tall or isolated trees, baseball dugouts
or small portable shelters.
Remain inside until you get the ALL CLEAR signal and or ALL CLEAR EMAIL. DO
NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL.
Adopted 2012, Rev. Sept. 2015