James Spann has seen a lot in 38 years of broadcasting. Highs and lows of temperatures, highs and lows of ratings — and now a new high when it comes to storm prediction.

ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann speaking to the Gadsden Rotary Club.

The long-time ABC 33/40 meteorologist spoke to the Gadsden Rotary Club on April 27, a date not lost on those who remember the carnage of six years prior. On that day, 62 confirmed tornadoes gouged Alabama, claiming 252 lives and destroying tens of thousands of homes. Spann says he takes every one of those deaths personally, and has made it a mission to improve how forecasts are made, and how warnings are delivered.

“People heard the warning, and they didn’t do anything,” Spann said. He added that the issue isn’t just one of math and models, but packaging the information in a way that spurs people to take it seriously.

“Humans are strange people, just odd. We are very hard to figure out. I don’t understand it, and the lack of understanding of social science cost us lives that day.”

The tornadoes of April 27, 2011 killed 247 people and devastated Alabama towns and communities.

The tornadoes of April 27, 2011 killed 247 people and devastated Alabama towns and communities.

Southern Co. crews work to restore service in Alabama communities following the deadly tornadoes of April 27, 2011. This is Pratt City.

A church announces its first service following the deadly tornadoes of April 27, 2011.

The tornadoes of April 27, 2011 killed 247 people and devastated Alabama towns and communities.

The tornadoes of April 27, 2011 killed 247 people and devastated Alabama towns and communities.

The tornadoes of April 27, 2011 killed 247 people and devastated Alabama towns and communities.

One of the key findings from the research was that people in harm’s way did not do anything because of too many false alarms. Spann characterized the top result in a sentence: “We hear those tornado warnings all the time, and nothing ever happens.”

“We know that as the Cry Wolf Syndrome,” Spann added. However, those involved in public disaster safety and response for Alabama — forecasters, broadcasters, emergency agencies — have made significant changes. Spann says the false alarm rate (FAR) in 2011 was 80 percent. Four of every five tornado warnings ended up empty, and gave people a false sense of safety.

In just six years, the protocols for triggering a tornado warning have changed, and the FAR is now down to 20 percent. That means four of five times you get a warning for your area, there is real, imminent danger. Spann hopes that more people become aware of the radical improvements in squelching false alarms, and that new confidence in warnings will change behaviors and put more people in positions of safety.

“That’s great progress, that’s one really good thing that’s come out of this,” Spann said.

Meteorologist James Spann poses with members of the club.