Frontline weather spotters wanted

Generals can never have too much information and neither can emergency planning departments. During an emergency the situation can change greatly in a few seconds, not minutes. Nearly instant communication is required.

But what if the cell phone towers and phone lines are down?

Ham radio is the solution that mankind has been going to for generations.

It is still viable.

Using ham operators to save lives and property is old hat to the pros and experts. But people with little knowledge of radios might not know that. They might not know what is significant about the weather.

So Saline County Emergency Management is holding a class for all people wishing to volunteer to be storm spotters and for any citizen wanting to learn about severe weather just for their own reasons.

The class will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the main building of Southeastern Illinois College.

Saline County Emergency Management Director Allen Ninness said, "It's a starter class to provide volunteers with the necessary training for Spotter Corps. It is not all that technical. Any citizen can attend just to increase their own knowledge."

It will be taught by a National Weather Service meteorologist, Kelly Hooper, from Paducah, Ky.

"I always attend. I learn something each year," Ninness said.

Spotters are the eyes and ears of the emergence planners at the local level. To keep taxes down, they are all volunteers. Many are firefighters from Saline and Gallatin counties.

Spotters played a key role when the Leap Year Tornado came calling.

We cannot know the future, but we can read the signs in the skies.

Severe weather preparedness

The storm spotter training is typically held in early March, which is Severe Weather Preparedness Month.

Saline County Sheriff Keith Brown warns citizens to have a plan of action if severe weather occurs. March is the transition month for weather in the area.

In the event of impending severe weather:

Take shelter in a basement or an interior room away from windows. Stay at or go to the lowest level of the house or building you are in.

Never stay inside a mobile home during severe weather. These lightweight structures are the first to go in any severe storm.

If outside, get inside. But if that is not possible, seek shelter in a ditch and cover head with your arms.

A "watch" means conditions are good for severe weather.

A "warning" means a storm is in progress in your area, seek shelter now.

Storm sirens are for the benefit of people caught outdoors and are set off by respective cities and municipalities. They sometimes cannot be heard indoors.

Storm sirens are tested at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month unless inclement weather is in the area.

Weather radios are common, inexpensive and may be programmed only to sound if there is an alert in your area.