Public invited to attend Office of Emergency Management education sessions

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

The Barry County Office of Emergency Management will host a pair of weather spotting classes on Feb. 7 and Feb. 24, aimed at informing not only first responders, but also the public, on how they can spot dangerous weather and what to do when it occurs.

David Compton, director of the office, said classes have been held annual for about 25 years, typically attended by first responders in law enforcement and fire departments, as well as amateur radio operators.

“It’s typically one class per year, and last year’s was held in Purdy,” he said. “We try to move them around between the northern and southern parts of the county so everyone has opportunity to attend. Last year’s class was more about tactical weather spotting, and this year, we are doing a more generalized class that will be more suitable for the public, but our first responders will also still be there and learn a lot.”

Compton said topics include recognizing cloud formations and storm formations, and when out spotting, how to do it safely, when to report something and to whom.

“That is about gathering actionable data like what they are seeing and where they are, then we can transfer that information to the National Weather Service,” he said.

While radar-indicated storms are common, Compton said because it takes 6 minutes for the radar to complete a cycle, spotters are key for reporting spin-ups or smaller events not visible on radar.

“Many times throughout my career, that has helped us get warnings out rapidly,” Compton said. “We have sounded sirens when radar and the National Weather Service say there is no tornado, but a trained spotter is reporting seeing one. There’s been more than a few times where spotters have reported seeing something the National Weather Service isn’t seeing, then later, we find damage.”

Compton said the classes are geared toward delivering information spotters want to know, which has led to diversity in the programming year by year.

The Barry County training class in Cassville will be on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Cassville High School Commons Area and the regional training will be on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. the Monett City Park Casino. Both classes are free of charge. Topics include severe weather formation; Identification of dangerous storms, including severe thunderstorms, tornadic thunderstorms, flash flooding, lightning and safe weather spotting practices; spotter communications; and countywide event coordination.

“Anyone can attend either training, and at the regional meeting, we hope to fill that room with 100 or more people from multiple jurisdictions and counties,” Compton said. “We haven’t done a regional training in a while, so we’re glad to be able to do it this year.”

Because classes are open to the public, Compton is hoping for strong turnout.

“A better turnout helps us keep these classes going year after year,” he said. “Russ Nichols also has done a great job reaching out and putting the regional class together.”