Come in out of the rain

By Bryan P. Sears
Posted: July 29, 2009

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has announced a new public safety campaign urging residents of our neighbor to the west to come in out of the rain.

Ulman, a Democrat, was flanked by other county officials including Health Officer Peter Beilenson, Howard County Schools Superintendent Sydney Cousin and other county officials as he announced the new campaign from under a tent in Centennial Park (hey, rain and scattered thunderstorms were in the forecast).

“When thunder roars, go indoors” is a public safety campaign created in conjunction with the National Weather Service to remind people to seek shelter from lightning, beginning when you hear thunder. An Ulman press release says the program is being rolled out in Howard County “for the first time anywhere in America.”

Statistically, it’s not a huge problem. About 62 people each year are killed nationwide (US population about 304 million) by lightning strikes, according to the National Weather Service. A Montgomery County golfer was reportedly injured in a lighting strike last weekend.

“I don’t know how I have lived this long without them telling me that thunder indicates lightening,” said a laughing Del. Gail Bates, a Republican from Ulman’s home county. “Oh, that’s right, I learned that at home and school.”

I asked Don Mohler, a Baltimore County spokesman, why we don’t have a catchy program like that here in the county?

“I’ll continue our policy of not commenting on the public policy initiatives of other jurisdictions,” Mohler said with chuckle. “We’ve got enough on our hands in our own jurisdiction.”

Does that mean County Executive Jim Smith believes county residents have it down when it comes to seeking shelter from a storm?

“We think (Baltimore) county residents are capable of making astute judgments when necessary,” Mohler said laughing.

 This blog has been updated

Comment on this entry • View all 4 responses

user mjohn says...

This is the saddest thing I've read in a long time. Natural Selection is officially a thing of the past. Howard County residents should be ashamed that their tax dollars went into this. If you don't know that rain/thunder could mean lightning then please go outside and wave metal rods into the air.

Posted 2:58 PM, 07.29.09

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user onewhocares says...

I am not sure Co. Ex. Smith should give that much credit to Baltimore County residents. Especially since one of our leaders recently said he didn't know it was illegal to write checks from his campaign finance account to himself. Like him, there might be residents who just don't think that logically.

Posted 3:57 PM, 07.29.09

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user davidmarks1 says...

Here we have a Democratic politician living up to the stereotype that his party sometimes promotes silly, nanny state paternalism. If I was a taxpayer in Howard County, I'd be insensed.

Posted 9:08 PM, 07.29.09

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user davidmarks1 says...

P.S. Very diplomatic response from Don Mohler.

Posted 9:16 PM, 07.29.09

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