|
June 7, 2024
Severe Weather Spotter Class Successfully Educates Residents
The Lake County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA) held their annual Severe Weather Spotter Course this week to educate residents on storm safety and help build community resilience. Two Severe Weather courses were offered on June 5 at the Central Permit Facility on our Libertyville campus, with over 50 Lake County residents ranging from 10 to 99 years old in attendance across both sessions. Upon completion of the two-hour course, each person will receive a National Weather Service (NWS) Severe Weather Spotter Certificate.
The aim of the Severe Weather course is to train residents on what to do and not to do during severe weather. Topics included the basics of storm spotting, how to report severe weather, in addition to what to look for and what to report to the NWS when severe weather hits the County. The instructor also highlighted the important safety components to being a NWS Severe Weather Spotter volunteer, such as seeking shelter and reporting from their location only when it’s safe.
In-depth information about the full spectrum of extreme weather possible in our area, including tornadoes, thunderstorms, flash floods, dust storms, high winds and winter storms, was shared to prepare the future Weather Spotters. Those who completed the course are now part of the NWS storm observing and reporting network.
“Participants learn the importance of what to look for when observing weather conditions and when to seek shelter and report information from a safe place, rather than 'chasing' after a storm,” said Dan Eder, Lake County Emergency Manager. “Over the years, reports from trained Severe Weather Spotters have saved countless lives during times of severe weather. The intelligence they provide to groups like the National Weather Services make a real difference to our community’s safety.”
This year’s courses were led by David Klechner, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and is a specialist in aviation and airline weather forecasting. He has used his weather expertise to support the LCEMA for over two decades. Another Severe Weather Spotter course is being planned for 2025. The class is free and appropriate for all ages. If you’re interested in being notified about the 2025 Severe Weather Spotter Course, email lcema@lakecountyil.gov.
To learn more about preparing for severe weather visit www.lakecountyil.gov/Weather.
|
|
|
Contact
Tammy Chatman
Chief Communications Officer
Email
|
|
|
|
