O'FALLON, Ill. — The city of O'Fallon, Illinois, is using new technology to keep people safe during severe weather.
This week, the city installed a lightning detection system in O'Fallon Family Sports Park and Community Park to warn park-goers when lightning is in the area.
City officials say when lightning strikes the detection system will set off sirens and strobe lights in the park.
Gary Bosick, who takes his family to this park in O'Fallon at least twice a week, called the detection system thoughtful and important for parents and children.
"I'm glad it was installed. It's definitely worthwhile," Bosick said.
According to city officials, the following process is the new procedure for weather safety within the O’Fallon Parks:
- When lightning is nearby, a siren will sound for 15 seconds as an initial warning and a strobe light will begin to flash.
- When the siren goes off, park users should move to a safe and covered area.
- A 20-minute countdown clock will begin once the last lightning strike is detected. With each detected lightning strike, the countdown clock restarts.
- After 20 minutes with no detected lightning strikes, the strobe light will stop and three, five-second siren blasts will signify the area is clear of lightning strikes.
"I think it will help for when we don't where the lightning is and we know that it's not good for us to be around lightening in the water," Stephanie Newton, who visits the parks often said.
City officials say the lightning detection system is programmed not to activate sirens and strobe lights during the nighttime between 10:30 p.m. and 7:45 a.m.
