Brian Barnes
EF1
I’m wondering if anyone besides me believes that the standards for “basic storm spotter training” should be raised a bit. I don’t want to bruise anyone’s feelings posting that, but here is my thought –
In the past 2 years there have been 2 storm spotters killed in the “line of duty”. At least that I know of, the Macksville, KS PD officer and a volunteer fire fighter in Seneca, MO. Both deaths were the result of a direct tornado impact – not hydroplaning, car accident, etc… But, this is 2 to many storm spotter deaths – it’s now a “statistic” of 1 spotter death per year for the previous two years.
A lot of people here, including me, personally know at least one WCM and we all know how hard they work– again, I don’t want to bruise any feelings…I think they do an amazing job for what they have to work with and I applaud them all!
But, I’m wondering if the general consensus is starting to be that curriculum for basic/general storm spotter training should be raised a bit (or left alone, but taught with better tools), and if or not it should be a mandatory training item for any “agent” of a city, or county municipality (not talking about file clerks, but LEO or fire fighters whether paid or volunteer – anyone who may be asked to perform storm spotting duties on the job)?
I’ve got 17 “spotter certification certificates” in my desk drawer just because I opt to sit through a short-course in my county every February – I attend to assist if asked (even if I’m just asked to help pack up), but since I sign-in, I receive a certificate.
A few years ago I purchased a winter home in Florida and when digging through the Ruskin, FL WFO’s website one day I found this: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/TampaBaySkywarnOnlineQuiz.htm, I answered the 25 questions and had a new certificate in my mailbox a few days later (and this one has a little perforated area at the bottom for a card that can be laminated…so it looks all official and stuff!). Hence the sarcasm, the “prerequisite” of being a “certified” spotter in some CWAs is pretty lax, in my opinion.
I’m not sure what, if anything could be done to expand the quality of the training received at these courses. But, for the most part they are a series of watching videos focusing on the rear flank and covering additional topics such as flash flooding (the El Paso “Call 911, Call 911” video anyone?).
Most industries today, and the military use far advanced training tools than videos, photos and diagrams. Soldiers are being trained using 3D “virtual reality” tools (combat simulators) and a lot of industries are using similar tools to educate their workforce – including law enforcement. Fire fighters can now fight an incredible fire in the back of a truck trailer that can simulate any number of real conditions that they will face during their jobs.
This all being said – it could be the case that both the Macksville PD officer and the Seneca fire fighter could have been very well versed on the subject and it was just the other variables that got them (i.e.: Seneca, MO is hilly, has a lot of trees – making storm spotting difficult and Greensburg supercell was just crazy and insane all around).
But I’m betting that if either of them had more direct knowledge of what they were up against, or access to some visual tools – or at the very least direct communication with a trained nowcaster (such as a dispatcher, or 911 center with GR Level II and proper training in “spotter coordination”) that it might have bettered their chances of survival.
Additionally – the spotter training that I’ve sat through focused primarily on teaching the individual the basics of storm structure and various risk and hazards. But perhaps just something as simple as training a few within their respective departments, or EOCs how to keep their spotters safe could add some value to any storm spotting program. Much like how OK-FIRST has trained EOCs for the past several years in Oklahoma.
Anyone else have similar thoughts? Or am I alone in thinking this?
In the past 2 years there have been 2 storm spotters killed in the “line of duty”. At least that I know of, the Macksville, KS PD officer and a volunteer fire fighter in Seneca, MO. Both deaths were the result of a direct tornado impact – not hydroplaning, car accident, etc… But, this is 2 to many storm spotter deaths – it’s now a “statistic” of 1 spotter death per year for the previous two years.
A lot of people here, including me, personally know at least one WCM and we all know how hard they work– again, I don’t want to bruise any feelings…I think they do an amazing job for what they have to work with and I applaud them all!
But, I’m wondering if the general consensus is starting to be that curriculum for basic/general storm spotter training should be raised a bit (or left alone, but taught with better tools), and if or not it should be a mandatory training item for any “agent” of a city, or county municipality (not talking about file clerks, but LEO or fire fighters whether paid or volunteer – anyone who may be asked to perform storm spotting duties on the job)?
I’ve got 17 “spotter certification certificates” in my desk drawer just because I opt to sit through a short-course in my county every February – I attend to assist if asked (even if I’m just asked to help pack up), but since I sign-in, I receive a certificate.
A few years ago I purchased a winter home in Florida and when digging through the Ruskin, FL WFO’s website one day I found this: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/TampaBaySkywarnOnlineQuiz.htm, I answered the 25 questions and had a new certificate in my mailbox a few days later (and this one has a little perforated area at the bottom for a card that can be laminated…so it looks all official and stuff!). Hence the sarcasm, the “prerequisite” of being a “certified” spotter in some CWAs is pretty lax, in my opinion.
I’m not sure what, if anything could be done to expand the quality of the training received at these courses. But, for the most part they are a series of watching videos focusing on the rear flank and covering additional topics such as flash flooding (the El Paso “Call 911, Call 911” video anyone?).
Most industries today, and the military use far advanced training tools than videos, photos and diagrams. Soldiers are being trained using 3D “virtual reality” tools (combat simulators) and a lot of industries are using similar tools to educate their workforce – including law enforcement. Fire fighters can now fight an incredible fire in the back of a truck trailer that can simulate any number of real conditions that they will face during their jobs.
This all being said – it could be the case that both the Macksville PD officer and the Seneca fire fighter could have been very well versed on the subject and it was just the other variables that got them (i.e.: Seneca, MO is hilly, has a lot of trees – making storm spotting difficult and Greensburg supercell was just crazy and insane all around).
But I’m betting that if either of them had more direct knowledge of what they were up against, or access to some visual tools – or at the very least direct communication with a trained nowcaster (such as a dispatcher, or 911 center with GR Level II and proper training in “spotter coordination”) that it might have bettered their chances of survival.
Additionally – the spotter training that I’ve sat through focused primarily on teaching the individual the basics of storm structure and various risk and hazards. But perhaps just something as simple as training a few within their respective departments, or EOCs how to keep their spotters safe could add some value to any storm spotting program. Much like how OK-FIRST has trained EOCs for the past several years in Oklahoma.
Anyone else have similar thoughts? Or am I alone in thinking this?
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