The Tri-State area is right in the middle of the “Nocturnal Tornado Alley”. Henderson County is a National Weather Services (NWS) “Storm Ready” community. We currently have deployed thirteen (13) Severe Weather Sirens within the City Limits of Henderson and nineteen (19) in Henderson County. Ten of which are located on premises of each volunteer fire department with the remaining placed strategically throughout the county to fill in gaps.
Weather sirens are not designed to alert you in your home. They are for use when you’re outside to warn you to take shelter and seek additional information through weather radios or local TV & Radio outlets.
Radar works via “line of sight” so as the earth curves (no the earth’s not flat), the radar beam reflects what it sees out to it’s maximum reach. By the time the scan reaches us from Paducah, the radar beam is 8000 feet above our heads so what’s happening on the ground can only be obtained from weather spotters.
In Henderson County, we have multiple means of instant communications with NWS Paducah. From social media, dedicated chat rooms, telephone and direct radio contact so we maintain instant contact with the NWS.
To better communicate with you and notify you of impending severe weather or other emergencies, we have added Hyper-Reach. Hyper-Reach is a community notification system that uses telephones, cell phones, txt messaging, emails and social media to alert you when various threats exist. But, you have to update your contact information when it changes so we know how to alert you. To update your information, go to this website and fill out the form or call them at (270) 594-5839.
The Role of the Spotter
While movies and documentaries often focus on “storm chasers” who roam the plains in search of severe storms for research data collecting, video taping or, yes, thrill seeking, a more direct service to the public is provided by the “storm spotter”. The storm “spotter” serves a community by participating in an organized effort to watch for storms approaching the community and warn of the formation of tornadoes or other threatening severe weather. Henderson Emergency Management does not condone “storm chasing”. It’s a very dangerous process even when it’s done on the plains, not to mention in urban and rural areas where visibility is severely hindered by hills and trees.
Our Program
The Henderson County Spotter Program is a spinoff of the Green River Area Spotter Program (GRASP) which was developed in February 2013 after a 12 month Co-OP between Henderson and Daviess County Emergency Management Agencies. There were many hours put into research and development of this program. One person who help spearhead it was the late Walter Atherton of Daviess County Emergency Management. Walter was the “Weather Guy” within the ranks of Emergency Management and at the National Weather Service office that support KY until his passing from illness. He is surely missed by many.
GRASP offered coverage to all seven counties in the Green River Area Development District (GRADD). This program was active for two seasons and consequently disbanded due to lack of activity. Don’t be fooled by others who’ve since tried to mimic the name and mission.
We believe this program offers an excellent foundation for all levels of weather spotter to build their skills on. So, in keeping with those elements, Henderson Emergency Management has adopted the GRASP model as it’s spotter program.
The program offers four (4) levels of membership;
- Basic
- Advanced
- Elite
Below is a break down of training requirements for membership in our weather spotter program.
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“Basic” Spotter |
“Advanced” Spotter |
“Elite” Spotter (1) |
EOC Staff |
|
(Field Supervisor) |
NWS / SKYWARN ELITE SPOTTER* | ||
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|
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|
Spotter Safety** (2) |
Radar Signatures **(2) |
Radar Signatures **(2) |
|
|
Radar Fundamentals** (2) |
Principles of Convection – Level II **(2) |
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|
Principles of Convection – Level I **(2) |
Severe Convection – Meso** (2) |
Severe Convection – Meso** (2) | |
|
CERT Training (3) ** |
Power Line Hazards for First Reponders** (2) |
Rapid Damage Assessment** (3) | |
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Amateur Radio License ** (3) |
Basic First Aid / CPR ** (3) |
Amateur Radio License * (3) |
|
|
Annual Performance Evaluation |
Annual Performance Evaluation |
Annual Performance Evaluation |
Annual Performance Evaluation |
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6 Hours Annual Continuing Education |
12 Hours Annual Continuing Education |
18 Hours Annual Continuing Education |
24 Hours Annual Continuing Education |
* Mandatory training requirements prior to assuming duties of the particular level.
** Highly Recommended within 12 months of program acceptance.
Notes;
- Each level of training is progressive which means it requires completion of all training items of the level above it. For instance, the Elite Spotter must complete all training requirements of the Advanced and Basic Spotter.
- All severe weather training beyond basic NIMS courses are available through www.meted.com. All trainings are free of charge and are web based, self paced courses.
- Available through local Emergency Manager.
If you’re interested in becoming a member of our weather spotter program, please complete this form to be contacted by our weather coordinator.