Severe weather is always a major concern for school and public officials throughout the year. Between 45 and 50 individuals received an update on how best to handle that situation during a meeting of the Clinton County School Safety Commission in Frankfort on Friday.
“Always keep an eye and an ear out for the weather forecast,” said National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Sam Lashley. “Monitor the weather forecast days in advance. We know when these storms are coming. Be sure to heed the warnings.”
Lashley said he is out about 15 days a month giving these kinds of demonstrations regarding weather education safety messages.
“We’re making sure people know what to do before storms ever move in during the winter and spring,” said Lashley.
Lashley said the National Weather Service is constantly monitoring the weather and analyzing all the data for the next seven days. He said there are three operational shifts a day with two forecasters on duty each shift. He added the forecast is updated every three hours and outlooks are issued twice daily.
Lashley added that a watch for severe weather is issued when there is a 50 percent chance of an event happening and warnings are issued when there is an 80 percent chance of it occurring.
Lashley said there is a new warning that the NWS is now using.
“Snow Squall Warning is the big one in the winter time for those people traveling on the interstates and highways,” said Lashley. “It’s about a 30-minute warning talking about severe weather ahead.”
Rossville Superintendent Dr. Jim Hanna, who is also the chair for the Commission, said he uses the Weather Ready Nation information to keep informed about the weather.
“I get that communication daily and it helps me plan the day and the week,” said Hanna. “The winter hasn’t been much so far. But if the fog comes in and when we have severe weather and the tornado season, it’s always good to have.”
Hanna also said that Lashley’s presentation is prompting him to make a change on tornado drills and where students actually go.
“We’re getting ready to do renovation to a couple of classroom,” said Hanna. “Those are interior rooms that don’t have any windows and they’re in the elementary. So that would probably cut down on some time as far as elementary going downstairs to a lower level.”
Lashley said 75 to 80 percent of the tornadoes in this part of the state are either EF0 or EF1 storms. He said the EF5’s are usually in the southern half of the state.
Schools and everyone can help get themselves ready for severe weather during the Severe Weather Preparedness Week which is coming up March 15-21. Lashley said this is one of three such events for severe weather with the other two being Lightning Safety Preparedness Week (June 14-20) and Winter Preparedness Week (November 8-14).