As a standard on campus, the Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Management recommends that outdoor activity be suspended for at least 30 minutes when lightning is detected within 8 miles of the campus.  When there has been no lightning within 8 miles for 30 minutes, outdoor activity can resume.  This is especially encouraged for all outdoor events and a requirement for Georgia Tech Athletics events & competitions.  Event managers should always plan for inclement weather when planning outdoor events, to include a means for receiving lightning alerts, a plan to communicate a suspension or cancelation, and finally a shelter location for participants.  Event managers our encouraged to work with our department for this type of planning, in addition to weather forecasting and decision support.

Lightning Alerts

The Georgia Tech campus community may sign up for email and/or text alerts for lightning by emailing oem@gatech.edu with the preferred email address and phone number.

Alerts are sent when lightning is within 15,12, and 8 miles of campus and then again once there has been no detected lightning within the 15,12 or 8 mile area for 30 minutes straight.  Please note that based on the nature of some storms, you should always look at the radar before assuming that you are in the clear.  It is not uncommon to have a multiple thunderstorms in the area and as one passes, another is right on its heels.