It's also a good thing to do for the local neighborhood. Neighbors call or stop by to ask if the weather gets iffy here.
The night that Grandbury got whacked, I told them I was putting on my pants and boots, and everyone scurried home to their secure spot.
Civilian storm spotters (trained and NWS certified, and radio operators) are a benefit to the community.
/johnny
God Bless those that wade into that mess.
We go to the classes at Fermilab every couple of years just to stay current. With that and 3 years working at the Warning Point for 7 counties in northern Illinois we have a pretty good feeling for when things area going to break bad locally.
I used to be the guy reading those NWS warnings. They said I have a face made for radio work. LOL.
Here in Georgia hillbilly country...the terrain makes long distance spotting difficult to impossible. Lives depend on knowing the difference between a radar indicated warning...and an actual funnel on the ground. Our Skywarn people have saved untold numbers of lives. Cheers to all our nations spotters.