In Clay County, severe weather preparedness is a major part of ESDA’s work. Heading up ESDA’s efforts on the weather is Doug Spitzner, who runs the emergency operation center’s communications equipment.
“When it comes to the weather, he pretty much runs everything out of communications,” said ESDA coordinator Steve Lewis.
Spitzner said that preparing for a severe weather event can happen days before the system gets to Clay County. It begins when a storm looks like it will be bad. Spitzner says that a conference call will come in from the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Ill. Local law enforcement and other first responders will also sit in on the call. “We just start planning from there,” said Spitzner.
Keeping the shelters open and storm spotters out could stretch manpower thin, but area Red Cross and ESDA Youth Corp members will pick up some slack. Still for those interested in helping there is another option– to train as a storm spotter. Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7 p.m., there will be storm spotter training at the ESDA Pit. The public is welcome to attend.
For the entire story please see Thursday, March 4th's edition of the Clay County Advocate-Press.
