Be prepared for storm season

    “We’re always put in a warning, we’re always put in a watch, and nothing ever happens.” Ironic as it may be, Phillips County Emergency Manager Bob Heldenbrand often hears complaints about how mild the storms in the area end up being. Sure, you’d think people would be happy when the weather isn’t as bad as they’d prepared for, but instead the result seems to be a growing distrust of the meteorologists behind the forecasts.
    Though the National Weather Service is responsible for such alerts, there’s more local impact than the average person might expect. Heldenbrand offered some behind-the-scenes insight to remind residents to take the alerts seriously — even if actual weather hasn’t been as severe as predicted in the past.
    There are about 200 people in the county who have been trained by NWS meteorologists to be weather spotters. The trainings are offered locally every year. Just last week there were three sessions held in Holyoke and Haxtun, and about 50 people attended. Most had done the training already, but it’s recommended they retake it every two or three years to stay current.
    The radar that is used to show weather in Phillips County comes from the Front Range, North Platte, Nebraska, and Goodland, Kansas. With the stations being so far away, there are limitations to the radar. Local weather spotters are one way to help make up for those limitations, giving on-site feedback to the NWS.
    To be clear, weather spotters aren’t out chasing tornadoes and they’re not asked to leave safety to watch the weather. They may, however, be called to confirm weather sightings that have been reported by untrained individuals.
    Community members who take the time to be trained and keep an eye on the weather help the NWS and the entire county. In addition to those volunteers, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Holyoke and Haxtun police departments, and Haxtun Volunteer Fire Department make a point of staying up-to-date on weather spotter training.
    Another thing to remember is that the NWS will err on the side of caution when making forecasts about the weather. It’s better to be prepared for something worse than to be caught off guard when it comes to storms.
    Since 1950, there have only been 40 confirmed tornadoes in Phillips County, and Colorado tornadoes tend to be lower intensity. Nevertheless, a tornado warning should be taken seriously every time.

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