|
Advanced technology and better
communications over the past 20 years have certainly helped to improve warning
operations. Even with such systems as Doppler radar and the Advanced
Weather Interactive Processing System, the warning process still has plenty of
room for improvement. While radar is helping to detect more severe weather
events than ever before, the warning forecasters at the National Weather Service
still rely heavily on trained spotters to help correlate radar data with
ground-truth information. These spotters range from those in the law
enforcement community to emergency management and volunteer weather observers.
Everyone who worked at the National Weather
Service Forecast Office in St. Louis, Missouri in 1982 and had input into this
web site were quick to recall the tremendous service that law enforcement and
spotter groups provided in relaying timely information to those who were issuing
the warnings on May 29, 1982. Bob Hamilton, the Meteorologist-In-Charge of
the St. Louis National Weather Service Forecast Office in 1982, said the event
"provided a great example of the cooperation between law enforcement, civil
defense, and local media in the warning process."
In particular, the efforts of Trooper Paul
Freeman and Trooper Rhea Evans, both now retired from Illinois State Police
District 13 in DuQuoin, Illinois, were recognized with a "Special Service
Award" after the Williamson County tornado event. Both troopers were
on duty when the tornado touched down, and followed the tornado as it headed
east along Route 13 into Marion. In fact, if it were not for the brave
efforts of these unsung heroes, the death toll may have been much higher.
According to NWS Central Region Director
Dennis McCarthy, the brave effort of both Illinois State Police troopers
"underscores the importance of timely ground-truth reports in the warning
process and provides an example of the efforts law enforcement folks make during
severe weather outbreaks."
|