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System
By DENNIS WINGFIELD
For The Department Of Emergency Services
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Rappahannock County Department of Emergency Services (DES) are keenly interested in protecting the population from severe weather such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, severe thunder and lightening storms and extreme temperatures.
Rappahannock County has certainly experienced some unique weather. Because extreme conditions are infrequent, we have a tendency to play the percentages and gamble that such conditions will not find their way to our locality. When the do arrive, we are unprepared. There’s a price to pay. Property damage, crop loss, injuries and death can result from these conditions. Obviously, we cannot control the weather, but there are many things we can do to protect ourselves from it.
One of the vital areas spoken to, and urged by NOAA and the DES, is an effective system which would allow the population to be warned of conditions requiring protective measures.
The DES is requesting volunteers who would be willing to report observations of significant weather that could necessitate a local warning. Such observations would include heavy rain, strong winds, funnel clouds, extreme snowfall, severe thunderstorms and other vital information. These reports would be reported to a central location in the county, assessed, and warnings issued.
In addtion to public notification through local radio stations, these volunteers would be provided with loud speakers (“bull-horns”), and would travel pre-determined routes, alerting residents of impending hazardous conditions, (in the manner of Paul Revere!).
It is hoped that two people from each of our districts would be willing to become part of this important system. Interested volunteers should write the Rappahannock County, Department of Emergency Services, P.O. Box 338 Washington, VA 22747, or phone Col.’ Dieter Knuepfer, DES Coordinator, at 675-3744 or Roberty Mahlbacher, DES Deputy Coordinator, at 675-3144.’
We know that extreme weather is not an every day occurrence. It does not have to be to bring devastation and grief. An appropriate warning system can reach all parts of our county. It could save your life.
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