22nd CES sponsors storm spotter class

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tara Fadenrecht
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management Flight sponsored a storm spotter training class, Storm Fury on the Plains, here March 3.

The National Weather Service developed the class and a Sedgwick County EM representative trained participants on how to spot a developing thunderstorm and what features to look for in a storm structure, specifically types of storms that are common in Kansas.

"You've got a lot of people coming [to McConnell] who haven't grown up in tornado alley and haven't been exposed to this [kind of weather] their whole lives," said Cody Charvat, Sedgwick County training and exercise officer. "It was especially important to get out to McConnell and make sure that we gave this information to those folks."

After some initial training, attendees watched and analyzed video clips of various storm patterns and determine the direction the storm was moving and what kind of threat the storm posed.

Senior Airman Tyler Melcher, 22nd Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, said the class contained a lot of relevant information. It included several weather-related terms that he had heard before and the instructor was able to put them into perspective.

The class focused heavily on thunderstorms and tornados but also included general safety tips to keep in mind during any kind of inclement weather.

Some of the most important tips to remember are to plan ahead, be alert to any changing weather conditions and move to shelter when necessary, said Charvat.

"It's better to seek shelter too early than to get there too late," he said.

Aside from hosting events such as the storm spotter training class, the 22nd CES Readiness and Emergency Management Flight also plays a role in base-wide natural disaster inspections that keep Team McConnell prepared and trained to handle emergency situations.

"You cannot form habits without repetition," said Staff Sgt. Shannon Lee, 22nd CES emergency management craftsman. "It is imperative that Team McConnell members know exactly where their severe weather shelters are located and what steps must be taken during and after in order to save their lives and ensure a quick return to the mission."

For more information about storm spotter training, visit weather.gov/wichita.