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Thor Guard Lightning Warning System Installed at Vernon Hills Athletic Complex (“VHAC”) and Vernon Hills 9-Hole Golf Course. The Thor Guard Lightning Warning System has been reactivated for the 2007 season at the VHAC and the Village 9-Hole Golf Course.
The Thor Guard System Base Station Sensor and Transmitter are located at the 9-Hole Golf Course Pro Shop with three remote horns (2 at the VHAC and 1 at the Golf Course). The Sensor constantly monitors atmospheric conditions within a 2.5 mile radius. When the conditions increase to a point where lightning may occur, the Base Station sends a signal to the remote horns. The remote horns then sound one - 15 second long blast and the strobe light on the remote begins flashing. If you hear the horns or see the strobe light seek appropriate shelter for the duration of the alert. All outdoor activities must cease during the alert period to protect the visitors and users of these site. Appropriate shelters include buildings, automobiles/trucks, and when one of those is not available seek a low-lying area. However, if the conditions appear unsafe and an alert alarm has not sounded, common sense should be your guide and activities should still cease despite the absence of a Thor Guard warning.
When the Thor Guard sensor detects that the danger has passed (a minimum of 10 minutes after the original alarm) it will send the all-clear signal to the 3 remote horns. The strobe light will stop flashing and three separate - 5 second long blasts will sound. After the all-clear signal is sounded it is safe, according to the Thor Guard system, to resume outdoor activities. Again common sense should still govern, and if the conditions do not appear to be safe to resume outside activity it is best to wait until the weather circumstances change regardless of an all clear from Thor Guard.
Due to the unpredictability of weather patterns it may be possible for the “red alert” to sound multiple times within an hour or even sound when there are clear skies and no danger. While stopping and restarting athletic activities due to Thor Guard warnings may result in some frustration, and even anger, it is important to remember that the Thor Guard system’s warnings should be heeded at all times. The potential risk to people is too great to ignore and the consequences of an accident are too severe. Many of the lightning deaths and injuries that occur each year are from the first lightning strike from an incoming storm or from the rear of a storm that appears to have passed through the area. The chance of these types of tragedies can be minimized by using the Thor Guard system, which relies on monitoring the atmospheric conditions not visible to the human eye.
The Village has Thor Guard informational signs at the VHAC and Golf Course with this information on them. The Thor Guard system is operational at these sites during the following hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Please note that the Thor Guard system’s horns and strobe lights will be tested the first Tuesday of every month at 10:30 AM, following the test of the Village’s emergency warning sirens. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Thor Guard system please email the Village at edl@vhills.org or call 847-680-2260 and ask for Ed Laudenslager, Director of Public Works.
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