The Carl Junction newspaper has a large article concerning Bill Dunn’s “One and Only” storm siren policy. The policy states that the sirens will “only sound if a tornado or funnel cloud is spotted”. It doesn’t take but a few minutes to google “storm siren policy” to see that most communities error on the side of caution when it comes to this issue. From what I have read there are few complaints that the storm sirens were sounded for no reason. However take a look at the complaints when people felt they should have. The May 8 Derecho is a good example. I was out spotting, where were all the firemen?? Were they spotting? The storm produced tornados. The storm had 70-80 winds well before it reached Carl Junction! THE SIRENS SHOULD HAVE SOUNDED. That storm could have very easily proven deadly. For example,,

COLONA —
Communities in the Quad Cities area will sound their emergency sirens not only for funnel clouds, but also for winds of 70 mph or more and storms producing golf ball-size hail, according to Donna Dubberke, morning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in the Quad-Cities.

I like this guys attitude towards the subject,,
“If we feel our community is threatened, we will sound the sirens,” said D.C. Rogers, Clay County’s emergency management director.

I would say if the NWS issues a tornado warning then we are threatened. Wouldn’t you?

The reason for adopting this policy is to keep people from becoming complacent to the sound of the sirens. I would rather be inconvenienced then take the chance. Some people don’t even get out of bed unless they hear the sirens. For the community to rely on “weather spotters” alone to sound storm sirens is utterly ridiculous. Tornados at night are obviously very hard to see, especially if they are wrapped in precipition. Do they actually think that every tornado forms west of town and moves in with adequate warning? How much of the sky can you see over Briarbrook, at night, from Joplin Street, Fir road, or Briarbrook drive? You can’t see any! Tree rows and terrain block line of site from every direction. Are we throwing years of weather research down the drain? It seems to me we are moving backwards. Weren’t we relying strictly on “spotters” 20 years ago before doppler radar. NOAA issues tornado warnings with the statement that the storm is exhibiting behaviour (rotation) that we on the ground alot of the times can not see. This technology has saved lives and it seems we are ignoring it!

NOAA offers a service to emergency management, law enforcement, media, and members of the ham radio community called NWS Chat. Is any member of the CJFD is registered to use it. If not, Why? The system fills the gap between NOAA and the emergency management community. It offers up to date weather reports in real time, Chat between media, NOAA and law enforcement. I certainly hope they are using this awesome tool.

What if the May 3 outbreak happened at 1:00am? In all do respect would you solely trust the CJFD to spot deadly tornados at night? Or anyone for that matter. The answer is obvious.

Click here and you will wonder why we are going in the opposite direction!!

It is mentioned in the article that the FD monitors radar at the fire station. So could they spot SRV in a radar loop. Do they know what SRV is? I’d like to know.

I guess all the government (NOAA) tax money that has been spent to further the lead time on tornado’s and tornado development doesn’t apply to the citizens of Carl Junction.

No community could ask for a better fire chief and dedicated citizen as Chief Bill Dunn. However I believe this is a poor decision that could possibly open the city up to liability for not taking a professional organizations (NOAA) advice for the citizens to protect themselves.

I guess we could take matters into our own hands. Watch the video. This is not me just FYI.

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