County workers to participate in disaster weather training

By Bernard Baker

Published: November 19, 2008

Pittsylvania County emergency service responders will be put to the test Saturday as part of a disaster weather training exercise.

Jim Davis, the county’s emergency services director, said contractors from the Virginia Department of Emergency Services will take teams through different weather scenarios.

“The weather systems we’ve experienced in Virginia have not been time of year dictated,” Davis said. “We should be cognizant about that and have our responders trained for severe weather.”

A tornado touched down near Callands on Feb. 4, 2006, causing nearly $100,000 in damage.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg determined that the tornado reached wind speeds of 60 to 90 miles an hour in some areas.

A total of 11 homes and a church were damaged by what the weather service called a “rare” tornado. 

Because of the unpredictability of when storms will hit, Davis said more than 100 people are taking part in training for several weather scenarios.

People traveling along U.S. 29 in Blairs will see signs letting them know that a disaster exercise is in progress.

One sign will be located in the southbound lane of U.S. 29 near Chatham Middle School. The other sign will be in the northbound lane near the Kangaroo Station.

Disaster training will take place at Dan River High School, the Pittsylvania County Landfill, Danville Regional Medical Center and Cook Composities and Polymers. Disaster training should get under way at about 9 a.m.

• Contact Bernard Baker at

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(434) 791-7986.