In August 1979, Late In The Morning, lightning Struck the antenna and communications center of a police station in central Florida―a high lightning-incidence state. Pieces of communications equipment and telephones were damaged, and several workers in the communications room were injured. As occasionally happens immediately after this type of event, repairs and modifications are performed so rapidly that certain aspects of the pre-existing installation can only be inferred from the nature of the occurrence. The damage and injuries occurred primarily because lightning protection provisions for the combination of antenna and communications center structure were inadequate or completely lacking. If appropriate lightning protection had been provided, it is likely that damage and injuries would have been greatly lessened or nonexistent. Specific departures from accepted lightning protection practices were noted, with reference to applicable codes.
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