Free Severe Weather Spotter Training Coming To New Lenox

NEW LENOX, IL — New Lenox and area residents can be in the know ahead of severe weather, with a course coming soon to teach what to look for in severe weather season.

Severe Weather Spotter Training is the perfect program for students, parents, scouting groups, amateur radio operators, emergency services, public works, police, fire, schools, and anyone else wishing to learn about severe weather, organizers said. A National Weather Service meteorologist will teach the differences between advisories, watches, and warnings, the characteristics of tornadoes and thunderstorms, and best practices for preparing for severe weather.

The Village of New Lenox and the New Lenox Safe Community Coalition will host the training in conjunction with a Health & Safety Expo and Touch-a-Truck on Wednesday, April 3 at Lincoln-Way West High School, 21701 Gougar Rd. All parts of the event are free for all to attend.

The Health and Safety Expo will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., in the area just outside the auditorium. Approximately 50 organizations from the health, safety, fitness, preparedness and emergency response sectors will be on hand. Information, literature and giveaways will be available to guests.

The Touch-a-Truck portion of the event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., near the main entrance to the auditorium and in the parking lot just south of the auditorium. Many types of vehicles will be on display, with demonstrations and representatives on hand to answer questions about the vehicles and apparatus.

The Severe Weather Spotter Training will be held in the auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Immediately following the training, door prizes will be given out compliments of the participating organizations. Everyone in attendance will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win.

The training provides those in attendance with information on what to look for during severe weather season. Attendees will learn about:

• Thunderstorms: lightning, hail, damaging winds, flash flooding and tornadoes;
• Facts and myths about severe weather hazards that impact our area;
• Advisories, watches, and warnings
• How and where weather spotters can report information from the safety of their homes; and
• Steps that can be taken to prepare for severe weather.

For additional information or questions, contact Daniel Martin, Safe Community Coordinator, at (815) 462-6493 or via email at dmartin@newlenox.net.