Ominous dark clouds approach Sand Springs on an unusually warm and humid day. Is a tornado imminent, or is it just a beneficial rainstorm?
It may be difficult to think about dangerous tornadoes or damaging hail in the dead of winter, but meteorologists and emergency management officials are already preparing for what may fall from the sky this spring. Trained citizen storm spotters are a critical part of their preparations.
Sand Springs area residents can receive free storm spotter training from National Weather Service Warning Coordinating Meteorologist Ed Calianese on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd.
Many people think storm spotting is something done exclusively by emergency personnel and amateur radio operators. The reality is that they are only part of a wider network of citizens who can provide valuable information through trained eyes on the skies.
The upcoming training is specifically oriented toward all citizens – from those affiliated with storm spotting organizations to those who just want a better understanding of what’s happening around them when skies turn ugly. It includes videos of severe storms, information on how severe storms form and what they look like, and statistics on severe storms and the damages they cause.
“The presentation is very interesting and informative for anyone who lives in Sand Springs and surrounding communities. Our location on the west side of the Tulsa metro area makes us a critical point for observing and monitoring severe weather as it moves from a rural to an urban environment,” said Artie Palk, Deputy Director for Sand Springs Emergency Management.
“People will also learn to discern between storm systems that have severe potential from those that only have menacing-looking clouds,” Palk added. “Storm spotters play a vital role in identifying dangerous conditions where lives are in jeopardy and avoiding panic in benign situations.”
During severe weather events, the Sand Springs Emergency Operations Center and Tulsa’s NWS office receive information from many sources. Citizens with storm spotter knowledge and access to a telephone or electronic communications are an important part of reporting conditions in real time.
“Although significant advancements have been made in identifying and reporting potentially dangerous weather, it still takes trained eyes on the ground to confirm what is really going on in the sky,” Palk said.
“Citizens with storm spotter training may be the only ones available to immediately report on dangerous storms. Their knowledge may save their own lives, the lives of their families, and the lives of others in the storm’s path,” he added. “The more trained observers we can get in our area, the safer we will all be if a tornado or other dangerous conditions are imminent.”
For more information, contact Artie Palk or Greg Fisher at 918-246-2610.