Were you aware that in a tornado situation, you should never take shelter beneath an overpass? A unique partnership with local emergency personnel and the National Weather Service used a popular new film to share that lesson recently with more than 300 people.
The crowd was invited to view the new film, “Twisters,” and hear from those in the know about the real dangers and precautions to take in an emergency situation. The event was organized by Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers and Missouri Highlands.
Steve Eddy, meteorologist with the National Weather Center in Paducah, informed the crowd more about his role in the National Weather Service and how he relies on people like Myers and different agencies throughout his region to give information to the different communities.
“One thing that happened when the original movie ‘Twister’ came out was more young people being interested in meteorology and weather events,” Eddy noted. “I really hope that happens again because of this movie.”
The event was held Saturday at AMC Classic 8 theater, with a following panel discussion at First Church of God.
After the movie had finished, the majority of the large crowd went across the street for the panel.
“It was thrilling to see so many people participate in that,” Myers remarked. “We were wondering how many people would go from the theater to the church. I’m surprised so many did.”
After everyone had settled into their seats with their food, Myers introduced the panel and prepared everyone for their opportunity to have their questions answered.
It included Eddy and Grant Dade, meteorologist with KFVS, as well as Myers, and Frankie Casteel with River Radio.
Both Dade and Eddy informed everyone that they were pleased to see the movie show the perils of taking shelter under an overpass in a tornado situation.
“What happens in that kind of situation is that the high winds get compressed into a smaller opening,” Dade explained. “Think of what happens when you have a water hose and you pinch it — what does it do to the stream of water? It adds pressure and makes it come out harder. It’s the same concept with the wind in that situation. It funnels through a small spot and the 200 mph winds can become 300 mph winds.”
Dade also informed the crowd that he was annoyed when he saw a scene in the movie where a person stated their Doppler radar wasn’t showing anything until later in the day.
“I actually hear this a lot,” Dade noted. “I want you all to know that what you see in your weather app is a model. It’s not radar. What you want to do is push the button where it says ‘past’ and you can see what has happened up until the present moment and you can see which way everything is headed.”
Eddy explained that there is an annual basic class that people may participate in that can enable them to help provide information to officials regarding weather events.
“I encourage people to take the classes because I need peoples’ eyes to see what’s going on and they can tell me,” Eddy explained. “It helps me and it helps everyone else when we can do that.”
Myers later said that he was encouraged by the response to the movie/panel and is open to doing something like that again in the future.
“Hopefully, people learned some things today that will be useful to them in the future,” Myers stated. “Anytime we can do something like this that is educational to the public, we will try to do it.”