County officials recognized by National Weather Service

WELLSBURG -- The National Weather Service recognized Brooke County officials for their efforts to prepare local communities for major weather events, Tuesday, while county commissioners appointed the first members of the county's new ambulance authority.

Fred McMullen, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Pittsburgh office, presented a sign recognizing the county as a StormReady community, noting the county is the 16th in West Virginia to be designated as such.

To receive the designation, officials in a community must have a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and relay them to the public; a system of monitoring local weather conditions; and a hazardous weather plan utilizing severe weather spotters.

Local officials also must promote the importance of readiness through community seminars.

McMullen noted residents interested in serving as volunteer weather spotters in the National Weather Service's SKYWARN program may attend a training program March 29 at Brooke High School.

The government agency uses information shared by the spotters to document severe weather events, from high winds and hail storms to floods and tornadoes, and verify warnings it has issued.

Those interested should call Jeff Luck, deputy director of the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency, at (304) 737-7094.

McMullen said the National Weather Service has had a good working relationship with Luck and Andy Nickerson, the county's emergency management director; and have been in frequent communication whenever a major weather event is anticipated.

Luck said the weather service has provided radios through which the agency's weather alerts may be received at the county's emergency 911 center and the Wellsburg and Follansbee police stations.

In other business, the commissioners appointed five residents to serve on its newly formed ambulance authority, a board that will oversee the operation of the county's ambulance service, which also is headed by Nickerson and Luck.

Joining Commissioner A.J. Thomas, who will serve as the commission's liaison to the volunteer group, will be Wellsburg Police Chief and former Brooke County sheriff Mike Allman, Follansbee Firefighter Joe Kafton, Susan Phillips, an active member of the Brooke County Committee on Aging; and Amy Spurrier, family health nurse practitioner for C.H.A.NG.E. Inc.'s Family Medical Care Community Health program.

Thomas, who abstained from voting on the appointments, said the four selected were among applicants who participated in phone interviews with the commission.

Wise said it was difficult to choose from about 15 who applied. She and the other commissioners said earlier they sought individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with financial skills as well as experience in emergency response, to oversee all aspects of the ambulance service.

County Commissioner Tim Ennis said a date hasn't been set for the board's first meeting.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)