(WWJ) Are you the type to keep an eye on the sky?
This could be an opportunity to help keep your community safe, as officials in Oakland County look to recruit more severe weather spotters in the area.
The Oakland County Homeland Security Division, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, will offer a FREE Skywarn Spotter class on Monday, April 8 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Groveland Township Fire Department, located at 14645 Dixie Hwy. in Holly.
It's a volunteer program, and at times a very important one, according to Justin Beck, Director of Southfield's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Division, which hosted a class last week.
"It just helps the National Weather Service do their job a little more effectively...and sometimes see things the radar doesn't pick up right away." The class -- which is the last in a recent series of classes offered in Oakland County -- will train participants on how to detect early warning signs of impending severe weather, especially tornadoes. Participants will also learn how to report an observance of severe weather to the National Weather Service, and about the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure and severe weather safety in this one informative class.
Who are they looking for?
"Anyone that has an interest in tornado spotting, or just to be more aware of what the weather is doing," Beck said. "I mean, this is even for your own family -- to give yourself and your neighbors a little more of an advance warning, too."
The Skywarn Spotter initiative is an effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies by expanding the network of trained spotters -- as many as 400,000 across the U.S. "Skywarn Spotters are an integral part of the severe weather early warning system," Beck said. "As a result of the Skywarn Spotter program, the average 'lead time' between the first sighting of severe weather and its actual arrival to a given area has increased by almost 10 minutes over the past few years. This extra 'lead time' to seek proper shelter greatly reduces the potential for injury or death from severe weather." Space is limited and registration is required; although online training is also available. For more information or to register now, visit this link. Those interested can also call the Oakland County Homeland Security at 248-858-5300.
