TOLEDO, Ohio -
At nearly 20,000 visitors a day, Cedar Point is used to large outdoor crowds that's at risk to our ever changing weather. Now the park is taking extra steps to keep people safe. This past year the park was recognized by the National Weather Service as being Storm Ready. Being Storm Ready is more than just a saying. The theme park has to meet a specific set of criteria which includes establishing a 24 hour emergency operations center. Cedar Point is the only commercial site in Ohio that meets all of the standards.
Lightning is one of the biggest weather threats to the theme park. It is estimated that 5 to 20 lightning strikes hit the park every year and most of those occur during the operating season. Park officials monitor real time lightning data that tells them exactly where lightning is occurring, what direction it is moving. That data gives officials the information they need to make plans and take action. Wind, hail, tornadoes and waterspouts also keep theme park officials busy.
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