The National Weather Service and Osage County Emergency Management will present a severe weather safety and information session at 7 p.m. March 23, 2017, at Santa Fe Trail High School auditorium.

Every year, NWS Topeka presents severe weather safety and information talks which are open to the general public. Presentations are typically around 90 minutes long, and are given by a NWS meteorologist. The shows focus on severe storm safety, preparedness and awareness. Storm structure and accurate identification of important cloud features associated with supercell and squall line thunderstorms are also touched on.

During the training, NWS shares its contact information with attendees, who are encouraged to call NWS (once it is safe to do so) to pass along critical information about any severe weather experienced. The NWS might also call attendees after severe weather has passed to inquire about possible damage or hail size.

In addition to attending a class, NWS asks attendees to complete online training focused on the basics of convective weather and storm structure. All county spotters and others who are interested in becoming spotters are urged to complete training as an introduction into basic spotting concepts.

For more information, contact Bryce Romine, Osage County EmergencyManagement director at bromine@oscosheriff.org or 785-828-3323, or see www.weather.gov/top/spottertalks. Santa Fe Trail High School is at 15701 S. California Road, Carbondale, Kan.

Photo: The tornado that hit Harveyville, Kan., Feb. 28, 2012, killed one person and totally destroyed the Methodist church and many other buildings in the town. Photo by Wayne White.