WMC Weather Road Show To Visit University Thursday

WMC Action News 5 Chief Meteorologist Ron Childers educates community members of all ages on severe weather preparedness during a Weather Road Show stop earlier this year. Photo courtesy of WMC Action News 5.

Memphis television station WMC-5 will bring its Weather Road Show to the University of Mississippi on Thursday (April 6) to educate the university and Oxford communities about severe weather preparedness.

The station’s storm tracking team, the American Red Cross, National Weather Service and city of Oxford’s Emergency Management Department will all be on-site at Lott Plaza beginning at 4 p.m. Visitors can tour WMC’s StormTracker vehicle, the NWS truck, emergency management truck and Red Cross’ Safe Home.

Representatives of the partnering agencies will explain their roles during severe weather and answer storm- and/or disaster-related questions. Meteorologists will broadcast live during the 4, 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts from campus.

“Having the tour stop on campus gives us an opportunity to educate the campus community on the importance of severe weather awareness and preparedness,” said Barbara Russo, UM emergency management coordinator.

WMC chief meteorologist Ron Childers will host a presentation about assembling an emergency backpack to prepare for severe weather at 5:30 p.m. in Overby Auditorium. At 6:30 p.m., Childers will host video presentations on why this region is susceptible to severe weather.

Immediately following, at 7 p.m., the National Weather Service will present the Skywarn Weather Storm Spotter Class in Overby Auditorium. All presentations are free and open to the public.

“We live in an area called ‘Dixie Alley’ that is prone to severe weather each year, and people can become complacent,” said Jenny Smith, WMC marketing director. “Safety and security is our No. 1 priority here at WMC and we want everybody to be weather-ready.

“We don’t want people to be scared; we want them to be prepared.”

For more information about the Weather Road Show, visit https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/.

By Christina Steube

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