[LeArc] Storm-spotting procedures run into blunt criticism

[Joe Rossmiller]

>From todays Peoria Journal Star.  Perhaps McDonough County ESDA should send
them some helpful information?


Storm-spotting procedures run into blunt criticism

Marshall County emergency officials air their frustrations

July 30, 2004

By GARY L. SMITH

of the Journal Star

LACON - A meeting held Thursday night to discuss problems in Marshall
County's storm-spotting procedures led to some bluntly aired complaints and
frustrations about the operation of the county ESDA office.

The sometimes heated gathering of fire chiefs and local ESDA coordinators
from throughout the county was the first of its kind during the 14 years
that county ESDA Director Don Carson has had that part-time job, an official
said.

"Do you know how many organizational meetings we've had in 14 years?" Toluca
ESDA coordinator Steve Piasse asked Carson at one point during the 90-minute
session at the Marshall County Airport. "I know. Not one."

The County Board's Emergency Services and Disaster Agency committee prodded
Carson to call the meeting last week after Sheriff Chip Webster complained
in a letter that "the county ESDA is not addressing the issue of storms."
The matter surfaced after reported confusion and miscommunication the day
that a highly destructive storm struck neighboring Woodford County.

"The reason this meeting was called is that our sheriff doesn't think our
tornado-spotting is up to snuff," Carson said at the outset of the meeting.

That very point was echoed by many of the fire and local officials in the
crowd of about 20 at the meeting. The storm-spotting that occurs is done by
firefighters or other volunteers at the local level, often with no
communication from Carson's office, several said.

"You've got no spotters, so we've taken it on ourselves," Lacon-Sparland
Fire Chief Brian Snyder told Carson. "We're thinking of the community."

Carson said he conducts annual storm-spotting classes that are typically
attended by anywhere from 15 to 40 people. But he said he has "no idea" how
many of them are active.

Henry ESDA coordinator Jim Lykins said he personally monitors weather radios
for surrounding counties and also radio communications by other departments
as part of his effort to stay on top of what's happening in and around the
county. He also commented on the lack of countywide meetings.

"I recognize your voices because I hear you on the radio," he told other
officials. "But this is the first time I've been able to put a name on the
face."

County board committee member Ron Schrock told Carson he should be having at
least one meeting a year. He also said Carson should take responsibility for
organizing efforts to improve the spotting system soon.

"You're the only one who gets paid in this group, so you ought to be the one
organizing everything," Schrock told Carson. "It's that simple."

At Snyder's suggestion, the group agreed to have another meeting Aug. 10 to
discuss both the technology and procedures of countywide communication, and
asked Carson to get information from Peoria County or Woodford County on how
their ESDA system operates.

The involved departments also arranged with Carson to conduct a countywide
radio test next week to check for any technological problems.

"Basically, (Thursday's meeting) was to get everybody together, air some
gripes, and find out what the problems are. We've done that," Webster said.
"Now we need some organization."