Severe Weather Training Offered to Campus

As Buffalo emerges from a blizzard that almost ground the city to a halt, information on how to prepare for such a storm will be offered to the Buffalo State community in the free Winterim seminar, “Severe Weather Awareness.”

The campus’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is sponsoring the workshop, Wednesday, January 15, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210.

WKBW Channel 7 meteorologist Aaron Mentkowski, who also teaches part time in Buffalo State's Geography and Planning Department, will provide an overview of Buffalo weather history and give tips on preparing for power outages and staying safe in severe weather.

“Aaron was here last year when he gave a severe weather session for the first time,” said Molly Prell, a programmer analyst for Computing and Technology Services and CERT commander. “He was enthusiastic about returning.”

CERT is a federal program overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Currently, there are 40 CERT members and a six-member task force at Buffalo State who have undergone training on everything from fire prevention to search and rescue. During emergencies, CERT members can assist first responders and provide immediate assistance to victims. Additionally, they provide outreach and education to the campus.

“We’re always trying to keep people updated on anything related to safety,” Prell said. “A lot of what people learn in these sessions they take home with them. Because being aware of weather conditions in our area is such an important topic, we wanted to open this up to the whole campus.”

Those interested in attending “Severe Weather Awareness” must register in advance.