April 20, 2012 –
Chad Omitt, from the National Weather Service in Topeka, gave a storm spotter’s training to around 30 people at the Bingo Hall Thursday night. Omitt said that trainings began in February and that weather service personnel had given approximately 35 trainings in the northeast Kansas region so far this spring.
The Potawatomi Fire Department sponsored the Storm Spotter training and handled the promotional work. Seen with Omitt above is (left) Randy Smith and Paul Juedes who have worked for the fire department for several years.
The training focuses on weather terminology, safety tips, and how individuals can look for and report actual real-time observations of tornadoes, hail, wind, and other significant cloud formations that may lead to severe weather conditions.