LTC 237-2003
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. d.3 7- -07rT7-i
m
From:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez 1 rl
City Manager 0
GROUNDING OF LIFEGUARD TOWERS
Date: October 3, 2003
To:
Subject:
At the September 4, 2003 Budget Hearing the topic of grounding lifeguard towers was
discussed. The CW A union requested the installation of lightning rods to ground the towers
as an additional safety measure. The Administration was subsequently requested to
provide additional information related to the subject.
Municipalities have varying policies concerning the grounding of lifeguard stands, but all
agree that it is necessary to suspend beach use until the potential for lightning passes.
The Beach Patrol Division currently monitors the lightning both visually and with the
assistance of hand held lightning detectors. There are two hand held units used on the
beach, one in the north and the other in the south. These units will detect lightning several
miles away and will issue a warning when lightning is detected within an 8 mile boundary.
Based on the visual or hand detected warning the lifeguards will implement the established
Lightning Safety Procedures as follows:
Policy:
When lightning threatens, lifeguards are to begin advising the public to clear the water and
the beach.
Procedures:
. Lifeguards to clear the beach of patrons.
. Once cleared, the lifeguards are to close their towers and seek shelter.
. All personnel with vehicles are to pick up lifeguards who do not have a safe
structure to which they can go.
. All personnel are to monitor their radios.
. Drivers will patrol the beach and advise anyone returning that the beach is closed
until the storm subsides, and they will continue to respond to emergencies.
. Area Lieutenants will advise lifeguards to return to their towers, usually when
lightning had not been seen for fifteen (15) minutes.
. At this point, the public will be permitted to return to the beach.
There are various professional opinions concerning the benefits of grounding lifeguard
stands. The National Lightning Safety Institute advises there is no such thing as a lightning-
proof small outdoor shelter, but a properly designed and installed lightning protection
system may make a difference in protecting the physical structure. However, a small
shelter, even one protected as described should be viewed as the last resort option.
While there is no definitive opinion that grounding lifeguard towers is beneficial, there is
'also no opinion that any harm is caused. As such, in order to enhance our beach safety,
the Administration has processed a Purchase Order in the amount of $10,000 to Bonded
Lightning Protection Services to provide and install a grounded lightning protection system
on all existing lifeguard towers. It is anticipated that this work will be completed in
approximately 45 days.
Based on the current information available related to lightning strikes and the protection
offered by the grounding of the towers the Beach Patrol Administration will continue to
follow the current lightning safety policy as stated above.
4L
J R \KS\VA
. ITEMPIL TC grounding of towers.doc
c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Parks & Recreation Director
Vincent Andreano, Beach Patrol Captain