🚀 go-pugleaf

>        On CNN they said that the NWS issued a tornado warning for Ft. Smith
>_before_ the tornado hit, but that high winds had downed the telephone lines
>so the NWS was unable to call the local civil defense on the telephone. (!)
>As a result the civil defense did not get the call, and didn't sound the
>sirens (until after the tornado had already hit). It was a serious enough
>screw-up that there is some sort of investigation as to what they should have
>done differently.
>--
>     /\    /\    /\/\/\/\/\/\/\.-.-.-.-.......___________
>    /  \  /  \  /Amoco Production Research Tulsa Oklahoma\/\/\.-.-....__
>___/    \/    \/Joe A. Dellinger      Internet:
>jdellinger@trc.amoco.com\/\.-.__
>-------------- Uh oh, Toto, I think we're back in Kansas!
>----------------------

I'm not sure where CNN got this information, though to my knowledge it is
incorrect.  From what I have been *TOLD*, NWS Tulsa called Fort Smith
dispatch on NAWAS and relayed the warning information to them.  Fort Smith
dispatch informed Tulsa that they were having power problems, though
acknowledged the warning.

I was told this from someone working severe weather duty in Oklahoma.  This
office has NAWAS and this person was able to listen to NWS Norman and
NWS Tulsa relay warnings over NAWAS, in addition to having Contel.  The Contel
alarm went off, for the tornado warning, towards the end of the NAWAS contact
between NWS Tulsa and Fort Smith dispatch.

A post yesterday called NAWAS "a cold war relic".  Well, maybe in your opinion,
but it is alive and well in Oklahoma.  NWS Norman and NWS Tulsa use NAWAS
extensively for relaying warning information to agencies across Oklahoma,
NW Texas, and NW Arkansas.

I completely agree with Chris's post.  Local agencies shouldn't depend on the
NWS to page, call, or perform any other function outside of established
NWS proceedures.

This might get me flamed, but aren't sirens meant as an outdoor warning
device?  (ie: to warn citizens that are outside and do not have ready access
to other warning systems.)  Shouldn't we be discussing how to educate the
public to understand severe weather situations before/during/after.  IMHO
there is a survival instinct somewhere in all of this, at least it is for me.
I would rather not wake up as my roof is being removed from my domicile.

Finally, hats off to NWS Norman, NWS Tulsa and SPC for jobs well done on
Sunday.  Despite what some people would like to believe, the NWS does not
have magical powers that will prevent tornadoes.

Putnam E. Reiter, KC5GVD
putnam@mesnet.mesonet.uoknor.edu
These views are mine and do not reflect those of my employeer.