© 2024 KGOU
News and Music for Oklahoma
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Deadly tornados tore through several Oklahoma communities on May 19, 20 and 31, 2013. These are the stories of natural disaster and its aftermath, and of communities healing and recovering.

VIDEO: Lessons From El Reno As NWS Trains New Spotters

The National Weather Service unveiled a new training video Wednesday for storm spotters and chasers with the hopes of avoiding a repeat of the tragedy that followed the May 31, 2013 tornado near El Reno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBjr-nvA2Jg

Eight people died, including storm chasers Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and Carl Young, during the widest tornado ever recorded. The 2.6 mile wide twister included multiple vortices, changed directions several times, and was wrapped with rain, making it a worst-case scenario for storm chasers.

"We wanted to put something together to help storm spotters/chasers avoid dangerous situations like those encountered back in May," National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist Rick Smith said in an email.

The NWS says the 27 minute video is intended for people with some formal storm observation experience, but the information is important for anyone.

-----------------------

KGOU is a community-supported news organization and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.

Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
More News
Support nonprofit, public service journalism you trust. Give now.