Emergency management invites community to weather spotting training

Emergency management leaders are offering weather spotter training to help people protect themselves from severe weather.

The National Weather Service for Kansas City and Pleasant Hill, Missouri, the Buchanan County Emergency Management Department and the St. Joseph Emergency Management Department are hosting the weather spotting training at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 at Grace Calvary Chapel, located at 5103 S. 50th St.

It will be the first time the public has been invited to weather spotter training since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we were planning for our 2025 (weather spotter training), the National Weather Service suggested, ‘We want to open it up to the general public,’” Buchanan County Emergency Management Director Bill Brinton said.

Brinton said the goal behind the weather spotter training is to teach people about weather patterns and how to protect themselves.

“We're not necessarily looking for storm spotters, but we want to be able to have the public come to a place where they can sit and they can learn from experts about what to look for, about cloud formations, about what different things happen,” Brinton said. “Our goal is for you to learn how to keep your family safe.”

When a severe storm is approaching in St. Joseph, the Police Department and Fire Department go to the area of Wyeth Hill and King Hill to monitor it.

Brinton discourages residents from chasing storms because there are 200 volunteers between each of the departments who can monitor severe weather and share updates.

“We have trained volunteers and trained professionals who watch out for us and the people in St. Joe and Buchanan County, and we feel confident about our ability,” Brinton said.