(COLUMBUS, OHIO) – To promote community preparedness for severe spring weather in Ohio, Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS) and The Ohio State University Emergency Management are co-sponsoring the annual Tornado and Severe Weather Spotter Seminar by the National Weather Service (NWS) beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at The Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus. The training and parking are free and open to the public.
Registration deadline is close of business February 19, 2016. Residents interested in the training can register on our website at www.fcemhs.org: Click link titled “Register for the 2016 Weather Spotter Training”.
“Severe Weather Spotters are a force multiplier and provide a vital link to local forecast offices to ensure timely and accurate information of severe weather warnings to the public,” said Michael R. Pannell, Director Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security.
The seminar, led by meteorologists from the NWS Forecast Office in Wilmington, Ohio, will provide specialized training to citizens, public safety officers and emergency management personnel in how to spot, report and prepare for tornadoes and other severe spring weather conditions in Franklin County. Trainees will gain better understanding of storm structure and how to distinguish tornadoes from look-alikes.
NWS depends in part on information from citizens trained to spot and report tornadoes and other severe weather events to help keep the community informed and safe with accurate reports and predictions of dangerous weather.
Driving directions to The Fawcett Center are on the Web at www.fawcettcenter.com/page/directions/
FCEM&HS, a government agency serving 42 local jurisdictions in Franklin County, coordinates countywide emergency and disaster planning, education, warning, response and recovery.