By Susan Woolsey, Staff Writer

The weather program used locally works so well the Pittsburg County emergency management director was asked to help show it to international meteorologists.

Brent Young recently attended the 79th Annual American Meteorological Society meeting. Once there, he manned a booth for the manufacturer of the weather radar program used here in Pittsburg County.

Young was invited to attend the meeting because Pittsburg County received one of the first radar systems made by OK First. "The radar we have was a pilot program developed by Dr. Ken Crawford and his staff at the University of Oklahoma, and was given to select agencies in Oklahoma," he said. "Pittsburg County Emergency Management Service was one of the select agencies."

Approximately 90 agencies now have the radar system, but Young was one of only eight people asked to represent the system at the meteorological meeting.

While in Dallas at the meeting, Young met many other people who are also concerned with weather and its effects. "Meteorologists from all over the world were there," Young said, citing such places as Japan, The Netherlands, Sweden, Pakistan and England. "These people were all there because the United States is the leader in world weather technology."

The United States is also a leader in tornado activity. "On Sunday, October 4, Oklahoma set a world record for tornadoes in one night." said Young. "There were 20 officials tornadoes in central Oklahoma, with only three injuries and no deaths."

Young attributes these low statistics to the radar system in his office manufactured by OK First. "OK First is a computer-based weather program which includes radar products from the Oklahoma Mesonet," he said. "The Mesonet is over 130 remote sites around Oklahoma which transmit weather data back to the University of Oklahoma for dissemination to agencies such as ours."

Young is very happy that Pittsburg County has this weather system.

"Agencies with OK First are able to monitor weather conditions and issue early warnings, possibly saving many lives and preventing untold injuries, " he said. "Buildings can be replaced, but people can not," he said.

Used by permission, McAlester News-Capital & Democrat

" Agencies with OK First are able to monitor weather conditions and issue early warnings, possibly saving many lives and preventing untold injuries. Buildings can be replaced, but people can not."
Brent Young, Pittsburg County emergency management director