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Home My WebLink AboutCity Clerk - Administration and Management Records - Policy & Procedure Records (51) Page 1 of 1 PUBLIC FACILITIES, RECREATION & SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT POLICY NUMBER 7.1 LIGHTNING GUIDELINES AT POOLS 4/5/2006 1/1/2014; 11/17/2020 Section 7 - Aquatics I. PURPOSE To ensure the safety of staff and patrons during electrical storms. Any time a facility is closed early due to lightning or emergency situations, the aquatics management should be notified immediately. II. PROCEDURE If lightning is visible, its distance from your location can be estimated by counting the number of seconds between when you see lightning and when you hear thunder (divide by 5 to get the estimated distance). The National Weather Service and National Lightning Institute recommend using the 30-30 rule to determine outside lightning safety. If thunder can be heard within 30 seconds of seeing a lightning flash, the pool shall be cleared. The pool shall remain cleared until 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning is seen (water condition may determine keeping it cl osed longer). The following table explains a reasonable procedure to follow on the days that may be threatened by thunderstorms. Distance From Facility Action More than 20 miles, or storms are forecasted for later in the day Please advise customers as they enter the pool that the pool may be cleared if lightning comes within 6 miles of the facility. The city will not issue refunds to pool activities canceled due to weather 6-20 miles away Alert the customers every 15 minutes via the public address system. Inform them of the 30-30-clearance rule and give them an update on the storms estimated distance from the pool. Less than 6 miles away (30-30 rule) Clear the pool and have staff and the public enter the bathhouse until a time where it is safe to allow them to exit the facility and go home, or the storm has passed. Keep customers and staff away from windows. Minimize the use of telephones as they could cause injury during an electrical storm. Allow participants to make transportation arrangements on the phone when it becomes safe.