Editorial -- Hopkins Response to Tornado Warnings Inadequate

When storms like the ones that passed through our area Saturday and Monday pass through, we are thankful for everyone who keeps us safe. From KMBC-9, which covers us up here from Kansas City when the weather goes haywire, to local emergency managers and storm spotters, although we take it for granted sometimes, countless lives are saved when a tornado passes through and people are warned.

On Monday, we had two tornado warnings in our area in Sheridan, one of which was extended, followed by a severe thunderstorm warning that lasted another 45 minutes. The sirens went off in Sheridan three times, as did our phones. Pickering’s went off 3-4 times, and Maryville’s went off three times.

It turns out that Hopkins is an outlier when it comes to warning residents of impending tornadoes. The sirens there did not go off once. It turns out that they only warn people when a tornado is actually spotted. That is not in line with the other towns in the area.

Sounding the warning sirens when a tornado warning is issued gives people an extra 10-15 minutes to prepare when severe weather comes our way. That can make all the difference in the world when it comes to trying to find shelter. If one life is saved, then it is worth it.

The problem with only sounding the sirens when a tornado is actually spotted is that when it gets dark, it becomes a lot harder to see a funnel cloud. Tornadoes can and do strike in the middle of the night. The Weather Service is a lot more proactive in warning about severe weather late at night; any rotating cloud can turn into a tornado if the conditions are right.

Also, there is a popular perception that when a storm passes through, it is all clear. That is not always the case. And that was not the case here, where there was enough instability to spawn a second severe storm when it was much more difficult to spot a funnel cloud.

We understand that there are many ways to get weather alerts. But the more ways there are, the better. Some of us don’t have desktops. Some of us don’t have smartphones that go off when there is severe weather. Some of us don’t have NOAA weather radios. It’s better to be safe than sorry.