When storm clouds gather, the first indication of trouble at sporting events is often a deep rumble of thunder. Now, the second will be a beep.

Since the start of football season, coaches of outdoor sports at Vicksburg High and Warren Central have been using lightning meters to keep their players and fans safe.

The devices, about the size of a videocassette, measure the amount of static electricity in the air. When it reaches a certain level, it means there is a high potential for a lightning strike in the area and an alarm sounds. It’s a signal for coaches to clear the field and hunker down until the storm passes.

&#8220It’s just a precautionary measure. I think it’s a good idea,” Warren Central boys’ soccer coach Jay Harrison said.

Vicksburg Warren athletic director Lum Wright Jr. said the devices were introduced last spring on a trial basis, and will be mandatory across the state beginning next year.

About 75 people per year are killed by lightning strikes in the United States, and another 600 are injured. Open areas – like soccer, football and baseball fields, not to mention sitting in metal bleachers – are some of the worst places to be during a thunderstorm.

Although there hasn’t been a lot of rough weather since September, Wright said that the devices had been used several times during softball season.

&#8220It was just knowing we had to deal with it. We tried a couple of them last year, then when we found out they were going to be mandatory next year we decided to go ahead and order them,” Wright said. &#8220We were ahead of the curve. We try to do that around here when we can.”

While the meters are one tool in keeping players safe, they aren’t the only ones. An old-fashioned eye-to-the-sky approach and common sense still work well, Vicksburg girls’ soccer coach Kevin Manton said.

&#8220You can see it. You can hear it before it gets here,” Manton said. &#8220If it’s bad weather, we probably wouldn’t be here anyway.”