News Release

News Release MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY Contact: Jessica Novak Office of Marketing and Communications	Earn a degree in Emergency Management at Lakeland Date Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 Topic: Twister Spotting:‘Skywarn’ Severe Weather Training April 7
Printer Friendly Version: Twister Spotting:‘Skywarn’ Severe Weather Training April 7
In conjunction with the start of tornado season, the Emergency Management Planning Program at Lakeland Community College is hosting free training on proper recognition and reporting of severe weather conditions on Tuesday, April 7 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on the college campus in room T129. The instructor will be Warning Coordination Meteorologist Gary Garnet of the National Weather Service of Cleveland. This is an opportunity for firefighters, police officers, school bus drivers, emergency managers and ham radio operators to be trained to spot and report severe weather conditions. The program is free and the general public is encouraged to attend. “Doppler will show rotation but they can’t detect a funnel cloud touching down,” said Lee Silvi, Emergency Management Planning program director at Lakeland, who is retired from the Mentor Fire Department. “Radar can only do so much; we need human eyes and ears to gather what the weather industry calls ground truth data.” Silvi added that Skywarn Spotters help provide better weather watch and quicker warning services to the public. This is the fourth year Lakeland Community College is the county host for the program. Individuals who complete the training may be assigned a spotter identification number and a phone number to officially report severe weather conditions. Reservations are not accepted. Seating is first-come, first-served. For more information call 440-525-7252. This annual program is hosted by the Emergency Management Planning Program at Lakeland Community College. For information about Lakeland’s On-Line All-Hazards Emergency Management Courses visit Emergency Management, or send an e-mail to lsilvi@lakelandcc.edu. Visit Skywarn for severe weather information.