No Aircraft
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Weather; Airport
This is the second time in as many months for the same type of event. As I was waiting on my gate; there was a thunderstorm approaching the airport. I notified Supervisor of the probable Lightning; Wind; and pending safety issues with the approaching storm. They in turn notified the Airport Operations Center. The comment back from the Airport Operations Center was; 'Let me go check the thing in here to see what is happening.' The Airport Operations Control Center; then stated that weather may impact the airport in an hour or so. I then notified everybody that we would be impacted within 5 minutes (We were). During this event; there were many lightning strikes at the airport boundary and the ramp will continue to remain open. After a strike hit on airport property I told everybody to clear the ramp. I was then told that the ramp WAS STILL OPEN. At this time I reiterated that the lightning was on the airport property and it was not safe for anybody to remain outside. After 10 more minutes the ramp was finally closed. The ramp remained closed for approximately 45 minutes.
IAH Ramp Agent reported the ramp was not closed for 10 minutes after a lightning strike.