Before the rain began over the July 4 weekend, a group of storm spotters from the Emergency Management Agency drove to deliver the latest news to Delaware County and the National Weather Service.
"We're making weather observations," storm spotter and volunteer at EMA David Vanhorn said. "The primary focus is to let the county know about storms."
Muncie received between four and five inches of rain, but there were no serious threats, said storm-spotter and associate professor of geography David Arnold. Arnold is also head of the Storm Chasers Team on campus.
Vanhorn said a storm spotter stays in front of the storm while a chaser rides behind it.
Delaware County Deputy Director of Emergency Management David LePoris said EMA uses radar, wind gauges and cameras to help detect a possible storm.
Information is then shared with the National Weather Service, which is located in Indianapolis.
"When we do arrive on scene, we do not arrive with stretchers or weapons," LePoris said. "We are here to educate. We are here as a resource." EMA was not called onto any scenes this week.
LePoris described this weekend's storms as "pop-ups."
"Pop-ups are disorganized storms," LePoris said. "You can not predict them."
"It takes a lot of different things to get a severe storm," LePoris said. "Velocity, turbulence, humidity and wind direction all play a factor."
LePoris said humidity was a key ingredient to this weekend's conditions.
The idea of flooding was an obvious issue for Muncie as well as Kokomo, which received eight to nine inches. The flooding of the White River is highly unlikely because of its well-designed water system.
"It would take a tremendous amount of water to affect the river," director of Delaware County EMA William Gosnell said.
"It's (White River) more of a channel system," Arnold said. "Most of the time it stays in the middle."
Arnold said the greatest threat of flooding rests in the saturated fields, leaving little room for the ground to absorb more water, thus holding the water on the surface.
Arnold said he spotted a funnel around the Delaware/Madison county lines while he was out searching with a radio and camera in hand. He estimated the funnel was about 3,500 feet above the surface, lasting only about 10 seconds.
"It was a very, very weak and common one," Arnold said.
Arnold said his job, and the jobs of the other eight or so spotters who went out to help this weekend, is important so people do not become frantic every time a storm occurs.
"If you were to hit the sirens every time someone called in saying they saw a funnel, people would not heed the warnings of the sirens," Arnold said.
No sirens were sounded this weekend.
People are advised to head for cover in a basement or a room with no windows when the alarm is sounded. Arnold said it is also a good idea to turn on a radio to catch the latest updates.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
