How a Close Call Led High 5 Inc. to Finding Perry Weather
If you ask CEO Chuck Burgess what High 5 Inc. does, you might get a chuckle first. “We’ve got a ton of activity going on,” he says. “Pickleball, tennis, swimming, diving, after-school care, special needs education—you name it.”
That’s not an exaggeration.
High 5 is a nonprofit community and sports center based in Brandon, Florida. Its 15-acre campus is alive every day with swim lessons, summer camps, endurance sports competitions, and courts full of tennis and pickleball players.
Add in before- and after-school care, special needs programs, and nine off-site after-school sites across Hillsborough County (with more expansion coming into Tampa), and the picture becomes clear: this is a nonstop operation.
That scale makes High 5 a unique community anchor—and also creates unique safety challenges. But all that outdoor activity means one thing: lightning is always a concern.
When “Close Enough” Isn’t Safe Enough
Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S., and storms aren’t just an occasional nuisance here. They’re a constant threat.
“Our main concern is lightning because we have a lot of outdoor activities,” says Patrick Skidmore, Vice President of Development at High 5.
For years, the team relied on a free weather app. But one close call made it clear that wasn’t enough.
“We checked the free weather app and decided to close the facility,” Patrick recalls. “The problem was, we couldn’t communicate it. There were still people on the tennis courts, holding big metal poles, who never got the word.”
Finding a System That Actually Works
That was the breaking point. “We knew right then this wasn’t going to cut it,” Patrick says. “We needed a system that could reach everyone, instantly.”
The search started immediately. “Perry Weather was the first thing that popped up,” Patrick says. “And when we compared it against everything else, it was the better product. It covered what we needed.”
A Big Campus, One Consistent Signal
High 5’s facilities stretch across pools, courts, and fields—making communication a logistical headache.
“Our challenge is it’s such a big campus,” Patrick explains. “If the lifeguards are making a decision at the pool, how do we communicate that to the tennis area? Or to the fields six or seven acres away, where kids are playing kickball or baseball?”
With Perry Weather, that’s no longer an issue.
“You’ve got the volume, you’ve got the flashing lights,” Patrick says. “It’s in a location that everybody can hear—and our neighbors can hear it too, which is great for them. The whole neighborhood now knows when there’s inclement weather coming.”
“When the Alarm Goes Off, We Don’t Have to Think”
When Perry Weather detects lightning within 15 miles, High 5 staff get an early warning to prepare the facility. As the storm moves closer, the outdoor warning system activates with sirens, flashing strobes, and an automated voice message telling people to clear the area.
“When that alarm goes off, everybody comes inside,” Patrick says. “No employees outside, no guests outside. Everyone knows what to do.”
And critically, the system removes human hesitation.
“It takes away the human element, which we like,” Chuck adds. “It’s no longer one person saying, ‘I think we should close.’ It’s the system. That makes it a lot simpler. We invested in this system for exactly that reason.”
The results? Instant trust. “I like the ability of knowing that when that alarm goes off, I don’t have to worry,” Patrick says.
When the Storm Hits, Perry Weather Still Works
The system’s value goes beyond lightning. During recent hurricane events in Florida, High 5 relied on Perry Weather to monitor conditions remotely.
“We were able to fire up the weather system and see what was happening on the facility—even while we were off-site,” Patrick explains.
Thanks to a camera installed on the pole, the team could even confirm structural safety. “We could see that one of our buildings was still standing during the hurricanes. That was super beneficial for us,” Patrick says.
For a nonprofit managing multiple locations and thousands of families, that kind of real-time visibility matters.
More Than Alerts: Building Confidence in Weather Safety
For Chuck and Patrick, Perry Weather is a way to build trust with their community.
“When that siren goes off, parents know their kids are safe,” Chuck says. “Our staff know they’re supported. It creates a culture where safety is the baseline.”
And it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Our neighbors hear it. Our families see it. It signals that we take weather safety seriously—and in Florida, you have to.”
“A Game Changer for Safety”
High 5’s leadership is clear: if you’re managing outdoor activities, lightning isn’t a risk you can leave to chance.
“I would recommend this system to every campus that has activities like we do,” Patrick says. “It’s a game changer. If safety is something you value in your organization, this is a great tool to help you accomplish that.”
Chuck agrees: “We’ve been through free apps. We’ve been through near-misses. This takes the guesswork away. For us, that’s everything.”
High 5 Inc. uses Perry Weather to:
- Detect lightning with real-time alerts from the National Lightning Detection Network
- Automate sirens, flashing lights, and voice messaging across a 15-acre campus
- Standardize decisions, removing the “human element” and preventing miscommunication
- Remotely monitor site conditions during hurricanes and closures
- Provide peace of mind to staff, parents, and the surrounding community
See How Perry Weather Can Help Your Campus
From school districts to community rec centers, Perry Weather helps leaders make faster, smarter, safer weather decisions. Try Perry Weather with a free 14-day trial →
