While Kansas had a relatively calm tornado season for 2014 — only 40 were recorded — the folks of Baxter Springs beg to differ. TUESDAY’S session is one of several this month hosted by the National Weather Service as a precursor to National Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 2-6. As part of the week, a statewide tornado drill — participating communities will sound their storm sirens — is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. March 3.
On April 27, an EF2 tornado destroyed 90 homes and 11 businesses. Another 85 homes and seven businesses sustained damage. While there were no fatalities, 25 injuries were reported.
Damage estimates were pegged at about $10 million.
A tornado’s intensity is rated from EF1 to EF5, with the latter being the most damaging.
Pam Beasley, Allen County’s emergency management coordinator, spent three days in Baxter Springs in the immediate aftermath of the storm as part of the state’s Incident Command Team, to help oversee recovery efforts.
“It only takes one tornado to make it a bad year,” she said. “You just never know. The key is to be prepared.”
The Baxter Springs storm hit about 5:30 p.m., Beasley noted. She was in town to assist by 10 o’clock that night.
While the incident provided a clear illustration of how communities respond in the aftermath of a tornado, Beasley’s emphasis next week will be on how to react before the storm strikes.
Allen County, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, is hosting the annual “Storm Fury on the Plains” exercise at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
The session includes a multimedia presentation on severe storms; a lecture on how to identify various types of weather phenomena; severe weather safety tips; and a question-and-answer period focusing on reporting criteria and other topics.
The material is designed to help folks of all ages. “We’d like to see people bring their entire family,” Beasley said..
As also has been the custom, prizes will be given away, such as emergency blankets, bicycle helmets and the grand prize, a 72-hour “to-go” kit.
Beasley also is using the event to promote the Allen County Emergency Management office’s new Facebook page, which will list a series of informational items about severe weather awareness.
The page also will be used to post storm alerts of all types.
“This is not replacing Code Red,” the county’s telephone emergency alert system, Beasley said, “but it is another tool for us to get information to the public.”
Beasley also announced the formation of a storm shelter registry.
Residents with storm shelters in their homes are invited to alert the county in the event the home is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.
“It’s entirely confidential,” Beasley said. “It’s simply a way for us to let responders know where to look if that structure is destroyed and people are sheltered inside.”
For more information, contact Beasley at 365-4777 or via email at [email protected].
‘Fury on the Plains’ Tuesday
