As thunderstorms dot the summer in Germantown, the local authorities aren't taking any chances when it comes to lightning—a capricious force of nature. The city aims to minimize the gambles of playing under precarious skies by installing the Perry Weather Lightning Detection and Warning System across several athletic fields. According to the City of Germantown, this technological shield is operational at Bobby Lanier Farm Park, Cloyes Soccer Fields, Germantown Soccerplex, Cameron Brown Park, and Bob Hailey Athletic Complex.
When lightning strikes within an 8-mile embrace of these fields, a 15-second siren wails its warning while strobe lights cast a bright caution in the visual spectrum. Simultaneously, speakers voice an automated message, urging folks to seek boltholes until the storm subsides. "The new Perry Weather System is just another way the City is working to keep our athletic facilities and the overall community safe,” Parks & Recreation Director Natalie Ruffin expressed, as per the City of Germantown.
The system dictates a clear regimen for the clueless caught in a thunderous moment – hightail it off the fields and take cover. Staying in the wide open with a tempest brooding overhead is akin to tempting fate. The system gives an unequivocal all-clear as the storm ceases its roar, and the threat dims to a distant memory. Three succinct 5-second blasts from the siren, the cessation of strobe light theatrics, and a calm voice from the system signal it's time to resume the day's play.
