Be prepared, keep vigilant for potential severe weather

Each Thursday at 10 a.m. starting in the spring, one can hear a tornado siren blaring over the speakers as it is tested in Kimball.

The siren that indicates imminent danger differs from the fire siren in that the tone remains the same throughout the sounding while the fire siren undulates and is sounded for a shorter period of time.

According to Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway, who is also the director of emergency management, there is no all clear siren.

“The siren begins whenever a notice comes in from the National Weather Service or one of our storm spotters,” Gillway said. “That means a tornado is on the ground within a mile of the city or that there is an imminent threat. The siren continues until danger is past.”

Gillway explained that if a break is heard in the siren but then it goes off again, there is a second report of danger.

According to the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, area weather is forecast a week in advance and predictions for severe weather are made daily.

Severe weather season in Kimball County generally begins mid-April and continues through autumn, according to Gillway.

The word is put out immediately to local radio stations that there is imminent danger in a particular area, the sheriff said.

Additionally, residents in the geographical area of the tornado are notified with the reverse 911 call system. Gillway encourages Kimball County residents to call the sheriff’s office if they are unsure whether their phone number is on the call list.

“Many people have mobile phones and fewer and fewer have landlines,” Gillway said. “Even those with ‘Vonage’ or ‘magic jacks’ should make sure we have their numbers.”

Emergency sirens in Bushnell and Dix are sounded separately from Kimball and all calls are based on through fire districts.

Although he has never heard of a tornado touching down within city limits, Gillway said he would never rule it out as a possibility. Funnel clouds with rotation have been seen in Kimball and there are many touchdowns each season throughout the county.

“We see very distinct swirling patterns in wheat fields and then we find the wheat deposited on the highways,” Gillway said.

In case of imminent danger, Gillway encourages residents to seek shelter, tune into local radio stations and have cell phone charged and ready to receive updates.

The courthouse acts as an emergency storm shelter for those who do not have shelter, according to Gillway.

“I try to discourage people from getting out and trying to see tornadoes when the siren goes off because sometimes you don’t have time to seek shelter. Many of the people who have died are the curious ones,” Gillway said. “It is extremely dangerous. There may only be seconds when that tornado is coming at you, it is better to seek shelter and not be outside.”