A public meeting, held at the Elkhorn school recently delivered an important message on summer storm protection and preparedness. The talk was given by Cheryl
Heaman on behalf of the Westman Emergency Group of how to tell how serious a summer storm will be, how to report it, how to protect yourself and family and
to have an emergency kit prepared.
She pointed out that we are not necessarily seeing more tornados, but our planet has more land under development, so storms are more likely to affect people directly. She also
pointed out that the new social media has made us more aware of where weather disasters strike.
Heaman showed a number of short videos about the various types of storm conditions and actual line footage of recorded tornado landings, including the
2007 tornado in Elie, Manitoba.
She presented several different facets about the dangers of lightning that destroyed many myths. For example, having a set of ear buds in your ears during a lightning storm can be a major source of danger, as it is an electrical device that may attract a lightning strike.
She told about an Environment Canada volunteer program to become a trained storm watcher to help track, describe and report serious weather events.
However, she was also quick to point out that, the job is as a “Storm Watcher” not a “Storm Chaser”, which is a very dangerous activity.
In closing, Heaman listed a number of emergency sites online where more information could be obtained and stressed the need for every home and family to have an emergency plan and survival
kit in the event of a severe weather warning.
The final simple warning she stressed was, “When thunder roars, go indoors”
