Gov. Braun declares state of disaster emergency for 18 counties/Confirmed tornado in Princeton/National Weather Service looking for storm spotters INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The National Weather Service is offering free classes to anyone interested in helping them spot a tornado or developing sever e storm. It’s part of their storm spotter program. “You play a vital role in what we do: the citizen scientists, the spotter,” said Earl Breon, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service has been at the forefront of storm warnings. For more than two decades, they’ve trained people every day to help detect severe storms as they develop. These storm spotters are volunteer citizen scientists who learn about severe weather safety. They also learn basic ways to identify storm structures, tornadoes, flashfloods, and high winds. “We have a lot of great scientists,” Breon said. “Everyone [here] is highly trained, highly educated. They’re great about what they do. We have a lot of great technology, but nothing’s gonna replace the boots on the ground.” Breon said some technology have limitations. For example, the giant golf ball structure behind their building is a doppler radar. It detects a severity of a storm and its location, but Earl says it can’t detect weather incidents that happen below it. At times, real people are needed to identify the severity of a storm. Spotters then inform the National Weather Service so they can alert and warn others. “All that stuff helps us make better decisions downstream,” Breon said. “So, you’re helping to keep your neighbors safe. You play a vital role in that.” The hour class is also about keeping you safe. The spotters are trained on weather awareness: How to be safe leading up to a storm, during that storm and after. The online classes are free and open to anyone 13 years old and older. The next class is April 28. ...read more read less