SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTER SEMINAR ON TAP TONIGHT

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Southeast Missouri Amateur Radio Club and the Cape Girardeau County Office of Emergency Preparedness will sponsor a public, Basic Severe Weather Spotter Training Seminar tonight.

The 1 hour program will be begin at 7 p.m., in the Harrison Room at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Brian Miller, emergency services coordinator for the county, will conduct the meeting, which will include videotapes and slides on techniques of severe weather spotting.

Keith Berry, a member of the club, said the seminar will be open to the public, including emergency and first responders, law enforcement personnel, amateur radio operators, and anyone else interested in learning how to become a severe weather spotter.

Refreshments will be served.

The SEMO Amateur Radio Club was organized more than 30 years ago, and now has about 100 members throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Berry noted that in addition to the recreational aspect of amateur radio, amateur radio operators also provide emergency radio communications in the event of man-made or natural disasters in the area.

Most club members have received advanced severe weather spotter training during the past several years, and are called out when severe weather threatens the bi-state area.

Club members also man and operate two-way radio and teletype communications equipment at the Cape Girardeau County Emergency Operations Center, and the mobile emergency communications command post when called upon by the county.