Seminar at Batavia's Fermilab to focus on severe weather

CHICAGO - Illinois' recent bout with severe weather - and the state's response to it - will be the focus of a seminar with WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the director of the National Weather Service.

Gov. Pat Quinn also is scheduled to speak at the annual Fermilab/WGN Tornado and Severe Storms Seminar. It's scheduled for Saturday at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia.

The seminar was created 34 years ago to educate residents about the dynamics of severe weather.

Quinn says it's critical that residents be prepared and that first responders are equipped to keep the public safe.

Illinois has had 11 natural disasters in the past five years. They include a record drought, deadly tornadoes, floods and historic winter storms.