Take-cover warning can save lives

On the wide open Plains, storms are a scary thing. We see the damaging effects every spring, as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes strike with slashing power throughout Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas.

Usually, the most devastating storms hit in May and June, but this year the turbulence is starting earlier than normal. This was brought home to us Tuesday night -- April 15 -- when tornado watches were issued for many parts of the Golden Plains.

That's the scary part. But, amid the concern, there is reason to be grateful and reassured. The comforting side of the storm story is that residents of the Golden Plains are now better informed about weather developments than at any other time in this area's history.

It all starts with the National Weather Service office in Goodland, which is doing a superb job of gathering weather information and getting it out quickly to radio and television stations and weather observers throughout much of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. A further assist in weather observations is coming from Decision Weather, Inc., operated by Chris Sramek in Atwood. He offers quick, keen insights into weather developments, giving the people of the Plains valuable data to deal with approaching storms.

The people of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas are also well-served by the dedicated teams of weather reporters at the McCook Radio Group (KICX, KBRL, KRKU and KFNF) and Coyote Country and The Prairie (KIOD and KSWN).

It is hard to imagine an area that gets better radio storm coverage than do the people of the Golden Plains. Rich Barnett and Dave Stout of McCook Radio Group and Jesse Stevens and Derek Beck of Coyote Country and The Prairie are on instant call, providing live coverage when severe weather develops. "It happens a lot," Barnett said. "I'd estimate we're on the air with emergency weather reports from 20 to 30 times per year." Stevens said the commitment to weather coverage goes beyond air time. "We encourage all announcers, including part-timers, to take weather classes," he said.

The result of the stations' dedication is that the people of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas have quick, clear, up-to-the-minute weather information at their fingertips. The information is not only appreciated ... it is crucial. When we are in the path of a destructive storm, a take-cover alert could be the difference between life and death.