Local Emergency Managers Get McReady

Ponca City EM Paula Cain and Aarea storm spotters

April 29, 2005 -- Ponca City Emergency Manager, Paula Cain, held a storm spotting fair last Saturday at her local McDonald's. The fair featured area storm spotters Chris Caldwell, Mick Phillips, Brett Shipman and John Utech with equipment displays for visitors. The event, which ran through the morning and early afternoon, drew in many spectators including several visiting kid's sports teams.

The Ponca City event is an excellent example of how this statewide severe weather awareness program can be adapted and expanded locally to increase impact. The banner seen in the photo above was made for little cost by the Ponca City Traffic Engineering Department and was hung in front of the store for most of the month for higher visibility.

Other local McReady Events took place in Blackwell, Claremore and Pauls Valley.