There were too many fatalities from tornadoes last year.

So says National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Hutton from the Dodge City office.  He hopes 2012 and the years to come will be less deadly.

Hutton is a Warning Coordination Meteorologist and was in Hays Tuesday night to present annual Severe Storm Weather Spotter training.  Hutton says the general public needs to understand and react immediately to the weather watches and warnings issued by professionals.

About 110 people, both professionals and individuals, attended Tuesday’s training for Ellis County.

According to the National Weather Service, 550 Americans were killed last year in tornadoes.  Hutton says 99 percent of the deaths occurred in storms where watches and warnings had been issued.

Learn more about severe weather dangers tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.