March 7, 2005
By Beth Shively | Staff writer
Noblesville Daily Times, Noblesville, IN
Photo: Dave Tucek describes what to look for in storm activity in the case of emergency. (Scott Mumphrey, for the Noblesville Daily Times)
With severe weather season fast approaching, many Hamilton County residents are brushing up on their weather knowledge to be ready at the first sign of danger.
During a training session Saturday at Noblesville City Hall, 40 people learned how to spot and respond to weather emergencies like tornadoes, hail, strong wind and flooding. These weather spotters will aid local law enforcement and the National Weather Service by alerting them to dangerous conditions in their area.
"Weather spotters' information serves as ground truth. Based on radar, they confirm what is or is not happening," said David Tucek, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS.
And if spotters report dangerous conditions before the NWS has issued an advisory, their report to local law enforcement can trigger severe weather alarms to warn people of a coming storm.
"Our motivation is to protect life and property in our community," said Russel Lopez, who attended Saturday's workshop with his wife, Linda.
Though weather spotters are required to receive training for their volunteer work once every three years, the Fishers couple comes every year.
"We learn something new every time we come here," Linda Lopez said.
Another person attending, 16-year-old Caitlan Cook of Noblesville, said her father has been an active weather spotter her whole life, and now she says it's time for her join the ranks.
"It's my turn to go out and chase storms," Cook said.
Like many weather spotters, Cook's father is a licensed ham radio operator, but having a ham license is not a requirement to becoming a spotter. Neither is chasing storms, or becoming a mobile spotter. Many weather watchers do so from their home or office.
Linda Lopez, for example, prefers to spot storms from home while her husband has been known to chase the occasional storm.
"The closer I've been to the business end of these things, the less attractive they are," she said. "Your real and proper response is ‘duck.'"
While some spotters do choose to chase storms, they are trained to do so safely.
"We want to report the weather, not become part of the problem," Russel Lopez said.
The weather spotters' job as storm alert ground troops will become increasingly important over the next few months, as spring and summer are the most likely times for tornados, flooding, hail and other weather emergencies.
"Peak season is the last half of May and the first half of June," Tucek said, but he added that severe weather can strike at any time.
And Indiana ranks number five in the nation for the number of tornadoes per square mile.
Nationally, weather-related deaths have been on the decline over the past decade, a trend Tucek says is a result of increased knowledge.
"Awareness of weather is paying off," he said.
In addition to keeping an eye on storms, some weather spotters see sharing their knowledge with others as an important part of their jobs.
"Weather affects everyone," Russel Lopez said.
Tornado safety:
- Stay away from windows. Most tornado-related injuries and deaths result from flying debris. Whenever possible, go to a basement or storm shelter. If there is no basement or storm shelter available, find a small room in the center of the home such as a closet or bathroom and try to use heavy furniture as additional shelter.
- A watch is used by the National Weather Service to alert the possibility of severe weather such as severe, damaging thunderstorms or tornados.
- A warning is issued when the severe weather is actually occurring. Once a warning has been issued, residents should pay close attention to weather developments and take shelter until the danger has passed.
- Create a disaster supply kit for your family. A disaster supply kit, stored in the identified storm safe area of the house, should include a first aid kit, water, flashlights, battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
Source: Dave Mlynarik, Mlynarik Agency, Inc.
http://www.thenoblesvilletimes.com/articles/2005/03/07/news/front_page_news/front74.txt