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Lessons given in being prepared for the worst
Local public safety officials provided some information Tuesday that they hope will help local residents in the event of severe weather.
Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou, Fort Scott Police Chief Travis Shelton and Fort Scott Police Department School Resource Officer Toby Nighswonger offered safety tips and reminders concerning emergency preparedness during a free educational seminar Tuesday morning at the East Side Fire Station. Another session was scheduled to take place Tuesday evening at the same location.
While the discussion delved into other areas briefly, the main emphasis was preparing for a severe storm, such as a tornado or the April 7 hail storm that damaged homes, vehicles and businesses across the county.
Officials said emergency preparedness covers a wide realm, with tornadoes being a big concern in the local area.
"And it doesn't take an EF5," Ballou said. "An EF1 can do harm. Straight line winds can be as bad as a tornado, or a severe lightning storm."
Shelton said the best plan residents can have is to stay informed and prepared and make safety plans ahead of time rather than wait until the last minute and be left wondering what to do.
"The biggest thing is to make sure you have a plan, whether it's a business or a home, and make sure family members and coworkers (know the plan)," Shelton said.
Emergency safety kits containing such items as weather radios, flashlights, police scanners, first aid kits and bottled water are good to have in the event that severe weather threatens the area.
One attendee asked at what point the storm sirens within the city are activated? Ballou said when storm spotters see a wall cloud or rotation in the clouds, the sirens go off and a tornado warning is issued.
"If a trained storm spotter calls or the National Weather Service picks it up," then there is usually a tornado warning, Ballou said.
Shelton added if Fort Scott is in the direct path of the storm, the sirens usually stay on. If the storm crosses through outer portions of the county, the sirens will typically sound on a cycle.
There is no designated public tornado shelter in Fort Scott. Shelton said typical shelter for tornados includes basements or interior rooms in homes.
Officials on hand said that Buck Run Community Center can serve as a designated shelter for people who need it following a devastating storm such as a tornado.
There was some discussion during the seminar about the safe use of emergency generators during power outages in order to prevent fires.
Nighswonger has also been deployed to help following such disasters as Hurricane Katrina and others closer to home such as the EF5 twisters that hit Greensburg, Kan., in 2007 and Joplin, Mo., in 2011.
Nighswonger, who Shelton said has taken extensive active shooter training, talked briefly on the topic of school safety and school shootings that have made headlines over the years, including the Columbine High School tragedy in 1999 and the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. He said law enforcement evolves with each disaster as it works to improve student and staff safety.
"We are looking at each disaster and we keep evolving in the realm of the active shooter," Nighswonger said.
Nighswonger said police are trying to get the message to students on being prepared in the event of an emergency such as an active shooter.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Center organized the seminars.