Stormready Success
This is a copy of an e-mail sent from Ronda Oberlin of the Lansing Emergency Management Office about our successes during the recent EF-1 Tornado to affect the City of Lansing.
From: "Ronda Oberlin"
Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:51:47
Subject: Stormready Success
When the tornado struck in Lansing on 8/24/07, our outdoor warning sirens were activated at 1639, seven minutes before the NWS tornado warning at 1646--five minutes before the tornado at 1644.
Dispatch Supervisor Sherry McDonald made the decision to activate the sirens based on information from Skywarn trained RACES operators, and on the warning issued for Eaton County for the same storm.
The relationship between our 911 center and RACES storm spotters was non-existent a few years ago. It is only because of the support of the National Weather Service and programs like Skywarn and Stormready that we have been able to build our local weather warning system into something that can--and possibly did--save lives and prevent injuries.
Storm forecasting is an imperfect system with the technology available today, especially for "radar distant" communities like Lansing. We appreciate the National Weather Service's commitment to partnerships with communities and programs that build local resources.
I went back and looked at our press release announcing that we had become a Stormready community. One of our key points was improved integration between storm spotters and 911. I think we can call this one a success for Stormready.
Ronda Oberlin, PEM CFM
Lansing Emergency Mgmt Office
815 Marshall
Lansing, MI 48912
517-483-4110
Do 1 Thing...for yourself, your family and your community www.do1thing.us
From: "Ronda Oberlin"
Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:51:47
Subject: Stormready Success
When the tornado struck in Lansing on 8/24/07, our outdoor warning sirens were activated at 1639, seven minutes before the NWS tornado warning at 1646--five minutes before the tornado at 1644.
Dispatch Supervisor Sherry McDonald made the decision to activate the sirens based on information from Skywarn trained RACES operators, and on the warning issued for Eaton County for the same storm.
The relationship between our 911 center and RACES storm spotters was non-existent a few years ago. It is only because of the support of the National Weather Service and programs like Skywarn and Stormready that we have been able to build our local weather warning system into something that can--and possibly did--save lives and prevent injuries.
Storm forecasting is an imperfect system with the technology available today, especially for "radar distant" communities like Lansing. We appreciate the National Weather Service's commitment to partnerships with communities and programs that build local resources.
I went back and looked at our press release announcing that we had become a Stormready community. One of our key points was improved integration between storm spotters and 911. I think we can call this one a success for Stormready.
Ronda Oberlin, PEM CFM
Lansing Emergency Mgmt Office
815 Marshall
Lansing, MI 48912
517-483-4110
Do 1 Thing...for yourself, your family and your community www.do1thing.us