Wilburton / Latimer County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated during all thunderstorm or tornado watches
/ warnings issued for Latimer County. We monitor and utilize numerous two-way radio frequencies including 155.490, 155.760,
and 155.235 .
Our EOC is equipped with a two-band amateur radio which has direct link to the National Weather Service office in Tulsa.
A locally owned and operated radar can be viewed on Wilburton Cable Channel 17. Our office uses the OKFIRST system, designed
by Oklahoma Climatological Survey at the University of Oklahoma.
A dedicated computer for WeatherNode constantly receives weather bulletins and pages EOC personnel with hazardous weather
information.
Our volunteer spotters are fromally trained by the National Weather Service annually and informally throughout the year
at our mothly meetings. These volunteers provide their own radios and equipment for spotting and give their time freely. They
are our number one resource during hazardous weather!
Numerous tornado safety articles are published in the local newspaper throughout the year. In addition, we are available
to give presentations and talks to any group in our area.
The StormReady accreditation was originally made to Wilburton and Latimer County on Monday, February 22, 1999. The
first to receive the designation. We have recertified in February 2004. Recertification is every two years.
StormReady is now a nationally recognized program with agencies from many different states now accredited. This program
was first established by the National Weather Service.
Ninety percent of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related. Through the StormReady program, NOAA's
National Weather Service gives communities the skills and education needed to survive severe weather - before and during the
event.
StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen their local hazardous weather operations.
HOW CAN MY COMMUNITY BECOME StormReady?
- ESTABLISH A 24-HOUR WARNING POINT AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
- HAVE MORE THAN ONE WAY TO RECEIVE SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS AND FORECASTS AND TO ALERT THE PUBLIC
- CREATE A SYSTEM THAT MONITORS LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS
- PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC READINESS THROUGH COMMUNITY SEMINARS
- DEVELOP A FORMAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES TRAINING SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTERS AND HOLDING EMERGENCY EXERCISES
