Graduate student Joshua Jans observes a potential tornado cell in Texas. His presentation on training for first responders in national weather disasters resulted in an Outstanding Student Presentation Award at the 2007 American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting.
It seemed fitting that a severe ice storm interrupted the 87th American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting held last January in San Antonio, Texas. After all, thousands of professionals, students, and weather enthusiasts were scheduled to enjoy four fun–filled days of weather–related research and presentations. Fortunately, Minnesota State Mankato graduate student Joshua Jans and his mentor, Dr. Cecil Keen, were part of a lucky group who managed to make it to the conference despite Mother Nature's attempts to thwart their plans. As a result, Jans took home a top award for his presentation and began the initial steps toward a weather curriculum that may someday have national impact.
Because of the widespread devastation caused by recent national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Jans and Dr. Keen researched the steps that are currently taken to prepare first responders for dealing with these situations. To their surprise, they discovered that there is no formal training in place to address this vital need. "These are the people that make the hard decisions and put their lives on the line," says Jans. "They need to know everything that is going on in order to avoid negative consequences."
In response to this obvious void in education, Jans developed a training curriculum that would prepare first responders for national disasters and increase communication between scientists and decision makers. The training would have three levels—Awareness, Operations, and Technicians—and each level would be a prerequisite for the next. "It's not a matter of if a national disaster will happen, it's a matter of when," explains Jans. "We need to offer these people scientific knowledge in a way that is readable, usable, and applicable to everyone."
Two tornadoes dance around each other east of Nicollet, Minnesota. The photo was captured by Minnesota State Mankato storm chasers.
To spread awareness of his work, Jans presented his research findings and training curriculum at the AMS Annual Meeting. But despite the importance of Jans' topic, he was concerned that the sensitive subject matter might rub some people the wrong way. "The presentation was nerve–racking and exciting at the same time," he says. "In the attempt to blend two worlds together there is always going to be some resistance to change, but it's necessary."
Apparently he needn't have worried—the AMS awarded Jans an Outstanding Student Presentation Award for his work. But the best thing about the conference for Jans was the chance to hear first–hand what others in the weather community thought of his ideas. "It's good to present and then receive feedback from other people at the conference," he says. "The support and advice of experts is always helpful. And it's nice to know that they were once in your shoes."
