(Spirit Lake)– Three area counties are expanding and merging their storm spotters.
Emergency Management Agencies in Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties have formed the Northwest Iowa SKYWARN group.
Dickinson County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Ehret says the violent weather that struck parts of Iowa in 2008 underscores the need for more storm spotters. He says establishing a formal group such as this is a first step toward better protecting area residents.
Ehret says those interested in becoming a storm spotter should have a love of weather, a desire to help keep the public safe, willingness to attend annual training and occasional meetings, and be willing to acquire an amateur radio license.
In addition to storm spotters, Ehret says the three counties are also looking to form a damage assessment team. The team would be responsible for surveying any damage to homes or businesses following a disaster. Ehret says the assessments play a critical determination into how much state or federal aid that could be made available to those affected.
Ehret says an informational meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. February 26th in the Community Room at the Dickinson County Courthouse for those interested in volunteering as a storm spotter or for damage assessment.
Ehret adds the annual storm spotter training course put on each spring by the National Weather Service will be held April 27th.
More information is available at the Dickinson County Emergency Management website at www.dcoem.org/skywarn.
