This is a message posted by the Houston Football Chapter.
Tommy Moore has graciously allowed it to be sent to all TASO Football officials.

Message From Tommy Moore - Executive Secretary Houston Chapter - Football

Last night in Porter there was a lightning strike at a soccer practice that injured a 21 year old Coach and a 9 year old girl. Keep them in your prayers.

The Bible verse " Except by the Grace of God so go I " applies here.

This can happen at a football game too. Please be mindful of the safety of the players, coaches, and your fellow officials.

The UIL Lightning guideline are listed below and you can read the NCAA Lightning section starting on FR-153 or the NCAA 2009-2010 Football Rules Book and on the TASO web site.

Error on the side of safety if in doubt. Part of your pregame should be to ask the school Administrative Assistant assigned to the game what is the procedure for clearing the field and what sort of lightning detection equipment does the stadium have.

Lightning Safety
Lightning may be the most frequently encountered severe storm hazard endangering physically active people each year. Millions of lightning flashes strike the ground annually in the United States, causing nearly 100 deaths and 400 injuries. Three quarters of all lightning casualties occur between May and September, and nearly four fifths occur between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm, which coincides with the hours for most athletic events.

Postpone or suspend activity if a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an activity or contest (irrespective of whether lightning is seen or thunder heard) until the hazard has passed. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds, and thunder or lightning activity.

Recommendations for Lightning Safety
1.Establish a chain of command that identifies who is to make the call to remove individuals from the field.
2.Name a designated weather watcher (A person who actively looks for the signs of threatening weather and notifies the chain of command if severe weather becomes dangerous).
3.Have a means of monitoring local weather forecasts and warnings.
4.Designate a safe shelter for each venue. See examples below.
5.Use the Flash-to-Bang count to determine when to go to safety. By the time the flash-to-bang count approaches thirty seconds all individuals should be already inside a safe structure. See method of determining Flash-to-Bang count below.
6.Once activities have been suspended, wait at least thirty minutes following the last sound of thunder or lightning flash prior to resuming an activity or returning outdoors.
7.Avoid being the highest point in an open field, in contact with, or proximity to the highest point, as well as being on the open water. Do not take shelter under or near trees, flagpoles, or light poles.
8.Assume that lightning safe position (crouched on the ground weight on the balls of the feet, feet together, head lowered, and ears covered) for individuals who feel their hair stand on end, skin tingle, or hear "crackling" noises. Do not lie flat on the ground.
9.Observe the following basic first aid procedures in managing victims of a lightning strike:
Activate local EMS
Lightning victims do not "carry a charge" and are safe to touch.
If necessary, move the victim with care to a safer location.
Evaluate airway, breathing, and circulation, and begin CPR if necessary.
Evaluate and treat for hypothermia, shock, fractures, and/or burns.
10. All individuals have the right to leave an athletic site in order to seek a safe structure if the person feels in danger of impending lightning activity, without fear of repercussions or penalty from anyone.
Definitions
Safe Shelter:

1.A safe location is any substantial, frequently inhabited building. The building should have four solid walls (not a dug out), electrical and telephone wiring, as well as plumbing, all of which aid in grounding a structure.
2.The secondary choice for a safer location from the lightning hazard is a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and the windows completely closed. It is important to not touch any part of the metal framework of the vehicle while inside it during ongoing thunderstorms.
3.It is not safe to shower, bathe, or talk on landline phones while inside of a safe shelter during thunderstorms (cell phones are ok).
Flash-to-Bang:
To use the flash-to-bang method, begin counting when sighting a lightning flash. Counting is stopped when the associated bang (thunder) is heard. Divide this count by five to determine the distance to the lightning flash (in miles). For example, a flash-to-bang count of thirty seconds equates to a distance of six miles. Lightning has struck from as far away as 10 miles from the storm center.