County looks for ways to replace weather warning system

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners and Sheriff Gene Mahon discussed storm preparations at the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday.

"We've had a light weather year so far, with a lot of storms going around us," the sheriff said.

Mahon, who also acts as the county's emergency manager, said the sheriff's office is building a new website, and he and Diana Wilkinson, who acts as emergency management deputy director, are investigating the possibility of a cell phone weather and emergency warning alert system as part of the new website.

The new system could replace the "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification system that went by the wayside when a three-year (2010, 2011, 2012) grant ran out, and commissioners voted not to then fund CodeRED services with county tax money. A low-level CodeRED warning system would cost the county $3,750 the first year and $7,500 each year after that. A second level warning system (which is the level that the county had for three years) would cost $8,445 the first year and $10,320 each year after that.

Commissioner Steve Downer said that a more localized warning system would be advantageous. "CodeRED was almost too regional," he said. "They cried wolf too often."

Commissioner Vesta Dack and Wilkinson both said they've fielded comments about the lack of the CodeRED system, Wilkinson saying that most of hers were from the elderly living in the country. Dack said many people are wondering where storm shelters are located throughout the county.

McNutt said that tornadoes and deaths in Oklahoma have people more aware of the weather. "Nobody gets excited until something happens," he said about the commissioners' decision not to continue CodeRED services.

Mahon said he is still working with McCook city manager Jeff Hancock on the possibility of the city paying half of the cost of CodeRED services and the county paying the other half.

Mahon said he wants a system that issues alerts on winter weather developments as well as spring and summer rain storms and tornadoes. "There are as many concerns about winter weather and blizzards as there are about thunder storms and tornadoes," the sheriff said.

Mahon said he stays in close communication with neighboring counties concerning developing weather heading toward Red Willow County, and with the National Weather Service station in Goodland, Kansas. "We'll act on weather warnings (from Goodland) and sometimes on watches," he said. His deputies go out to watch storms develop, and communicate with the McCook police department dispatch. "If we need them, we ask for help watching the perimeters of McCook from the McCook police officers. Mahon said.

"There has been no need yet to sound the sirens (in McCook)," Mahon said. "I'd rather sound the sirens early, than not at all," and people are looking for a hole to crawl into.

Mahon and commission chairman Earl McNutt said there are other warning devices available -- radio and television alerts, some cell phone data packages and weather radios. Storm spotters (private citizens trained to watch storm developments and report to Goodland) are helpful, they said. Mahon said a group of citizens is interested in revitalizing an amateur radio group, whose members would communicate weather developments.

Mahon said he has, in very severe weather, sent his deputies up and down the streets blaring weather warnings on their radio loud speakers.

The sheriff's office also works closely with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Sheriff Mahon told commissioners he will work with radio and newspapers to improve the public's knowledge of available storm shelters. And, he said, emergency management can develop flyers about appropriate storm responses and where shelters are located to pass out at large gatherings such as at the county fair and McCook's Heritage Days parade. He said, "The more we make people aware, the safer they'll be."

In other action Monday morning, commissioners signed a contract with Rob Henry of C.E.S. (Commercial Engineering Services LLC) of McCook to furnish material, labor, tools and equipment for the new jail's structured cabling system for data/voice computers and telephones.

McNutt said Henry will work in conjunction with Beckenhauer Construction to ensure that contractors and concrete won't get ahead of installing cabling, jacks and conduit. Henry installed similar structured cabling systems at the new McCook Community College Events Center and at the downtown McCook Keystone Business Center.