Boone County News Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Hannah Wichern
Mitigation & Recovery Specialist
Boone County Office of Emergency Management
Phone: (573) 557-7912
Email: hwichern@boonecountymo.org
National Weather Service St. Louis Set to Host Storm Spotter Class in Columbia, Missouri
April 4, 2022 – Boone County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has partnered with the University of Missouri (MU) and National Weather Service (NWS) St. Louis to offer a storm spotter class on Mizzou’s campus to prepare for severe weather season.
The Boone County Ready community preparedness campaign highlights the importance of the four steps of preparedness: Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit, and Get Involved. Becoming a storm spotter in your community is just one way that citizens can get involved in their community. The class offers Boone County citizens the opportunity to become involved in their community by becoming a volunteer storm spotter, reporting severe weather to the National Weather Service and invites citizens to learn more about severe weather. Attendees are taught the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure, the features to look for and where to find them. In addition, those in attendance will learn what, when and how to report information to the National Weather Service.
The Storm Spotter class will be held Wednesday, April 13th from 7pm – 9pm in the Memorial Student Union, Room N201 BC, located at 518 Hitt St., Columbia MO, 65201. Registration is not required, and the event is free to the public. Melissa Mainhart, Meteorologist with the NWS, encourages all citizens to attend, stating “the Storm Spotter classes are a great time to learn not just how severe weather forms, but also how to identify and report it to the National Weather Service. We rely on our local storm spotters to be our eyes on the ground during severe and winter weather to tell us what is happening so we can forecast and warn the public appropriately. Becoming a National Weather Service Storm Spotter is an easy and fun way to engage in citizen science and serve your community.”
Follow the OEM on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @BooneCountyOEM. In addition, subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, engaging and educational videos on severe weather and ways to prepare for all hazards.
Additional information on the NWS Storm Spotter class can be found on the OEM’s website at showmeboone.com/OEM
Additional information on the Boone County Ready campaign can be found at ready.boonemo.org.
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