Storms offer good lessons for spotters

Jeff Young knew Sunday’s storm was going to be a problem when he got the first text, but it proved to be perfect practice.

The day before, Franklin County’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Department, which Young heads, hosted a training session for volunteer weather spotters. Sunday’s dark skies and storm, which resulted in no injuries, turned out to a good exercise. He also knew the public would want to know why sirens were sounded.

“It was a great opportunity for us to practice what we had talked about and what we drill on,” Young said.

The timing was important because April is the month with perhaps the most severe weather in central Ohio. Today kicks off the area’s traditional severe weather season, which runs through the end of July.

Last year, there were no tornado watches, in which conditions are favorable for a tornado. There also were no 2016 tornado warnings, in which a tornado was spotted on radar or by weather volunteers.

So far this year, Young said, there have been three watches or warnings — one in February and two in March.

Young and Deputy Director Darrel Koerber rushed to the emergency management office on the Northeast Side just inside Interstate 270 to deal with Sunday’s storm.

There, they and others went through the checklist to prepare as skies darkened and winds gusted.

Nearly 16,000 people who have signed up were sent a text message from “Alert Franklin County,” the department’s masscommunication program to alert anyone who signs up for the free service to be notified by text, email or phone when there is danger involving weather, crime or other incidents.

Young and others notified safety and law-enforcement agencies of the impending storm. The 196 sirens within Franklin County were sounded, wailing for three minutes, off for seven and then repeating while the tornado warning was in effect. The sirens were checked to make sure all were working.

Though the conditions were right Sunday, no tornado occurred in Franklin County although the storm gathered rapidly and ominously.

“Sunday was very unique,” Young said. “There were no (tornado) watches issued. It happened very quickly.”

That storm brought 1.5 inches of rain, National Weather Service meteorologist Myron Padgett said.

More importantly from Young’s perspective, it proved to him that Franklin County’s emergency management office, with nine workers and a $1.7 million annual budget, is ready for storm season.

“We are in a densely populated area, so any significant weather ... has a significant impact on the community,” Young said.

His best tip for the storm season is to have a plan.

“What do I do if I stay in the house (during a weather emergency)? What do I do if we have to relocate? How will we communicate with each other?” Young said.

A good part of any plan is finding out early that there is potential for dangerous weather. Of almost 900,000 telephone numbers that county emergency management has in its internal data base, only 15,868 are signed up for Alert Franklin County warnings, so more people should take advantage of the service, he said. To register, go online to www.alertfranklincounty.org.

“In today’s mobile society, that allows us to send warnings and message you wherever you are,” Young said. “(Safety) comes down to people’s awareness.”

Briana/ girl, March 28 Allisha and Daniel: boy, March 26 Jaymie: Jaime and Michael: girl, March 24

Chelsea and Carlos: girl, March 25 The American Red Cross has an ongoing need for donors of all blood types, especially type O negative. Donors can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-7332767) or go to redcrossblood. org to schedule an appointment. Walk-in donors also are welcome. Blood drives are open today at:

4820 Sawmill Road, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

- 3800 Westerville Road, Columbus, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

1327 Cameron Ave., Lewis Center, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 1420 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

337 Stoneridge Lane, Gahanna, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 4327 Equity