🚀 go-pugleaf

>
>
> Topics of the day:
>
>   1. SKYWARN Digest - 6 Sep 1998 to 7 Sep 1998
>   2. jRe: SKYWARN Reorganization
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:    Tue, 8 Sep 1998 08:47:13 -0400
> From:    Kevin Heyboer <kd4uyr@GTE.NET>
> Subject: Re: SKYWARN Digest - 6 Sep 1998 to 7 Sep 1998
>
> Once again, the discussion on who is responsible for Skywarn rears its ugly
> head.
>
> Here in Florida, the NWS is the primary agency responsible for the Skywarn
> program and the WCM at each NWSFO prepares the training and maintains the
> program.  NOT ALL SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE HAM OPERATORS!  We have many trained
> local government workers and utility company workers, just to name a few.
>
> Ham operators who participate in any Skywarn program, whether they realize
> it or not, operate within the auspices of a Memorandum of Understanding
> (MOU) between the ARRL (ie, ARES) and the NWS.
>
> Our system here is modeled closely to that in NC, with the exception that
> manning our local weather office can be difficult.

Thanks for your comments, Kevin! We have worked hard on this important project
 in NC and
continue to improve upon it each year!

> Thunderstorms in Florida
> are usually the "pulse" type, forming and dissipating within one and
> one-half hours.   It takes at least one hour to get someone to the NWS
> office in the tomato patch in Ruskin from the time they are notified to
> respond.   However, we do have a ham station there....and it can be manned
> during long term events (such as it was while Hurricane Earl  was slipping
> eastward last week).
>
> In those cases, each county runs its own Skywarn Net.....and the info is
> then forwarded on a wide area repeater, or digitally on APRS.

Just curious Kevin, what stops each "local net" NCS or liaison from calling-in
 svr wx
reports via Ruskins 1-800 number vs relaying on the wide area rptr? Does Ruskin
 only
monitor the wide coverage rptrs? How do the nets rcve "acks" or confirmations
 that the
info was rcvd from the wide coverage rptrs if hams are not normally at Ruskin?

We have found that during the "pulse" storms here in the summer and fall that if
 we send
the same info in an abbreviated format via APRS, that the "ack" we get back
 suffices for
an confirmation since we have the same "manpower situation" that you have
 described.
However, during the springtime svr wx events, we usually have enough "lead" time
 from the
GSP NWSFO to get the ham station manned and covered so that liaison operators
 are
monitoring the 3 wide coverage rptrs that are used. During these events, we use
 APRS to
send storm damage reports and other information to the NWSFO.

> The NWS
> office also has a 24 hour APRS station which monitors six automatic weather
> stations in Pinellas County and three in Polk County.  More of these
> stations are planned, as well as augmentation of that network.

I'm glad to see more use of APRS to augment SKYWARN nets!I know that your group
 has been
using it alot longer than we have Kevin, so maybe you all can "elmer" us in the
 finer
points and "tricks of the trade" of using this system to our best advantage!

>
>
> With regard to local emergency management....in those states where tornadoes
> and flash flooding are the most likely devistating event for which EM plans,
> then I suspect notifying EM of any severe weather is an imperative part of
> the spotter programs.     However, it is not true in every case, or in every
> state.   Here in my county, EM would only want to know about a tornado if it
> touched the ground causing damage or injury requiring an emergency responce
> from fire and law enforcement.  Our EM does not issue warnings....they have
> no sirens....and they have no power to force evacuation without an order
> from the County Commission.
>
> IN fact, the transmission of all warnings, including civil emergency
> messages, goes out via the EAS system which is keyed through the NWS
> transmitters and the NAWAS system in Florida was dismantled several years
> ago in deference to a satellite comm system.
>
> The main point is that it really doesn't matter who is running your local
> Skywarn program so long as it works!  The inability to monitor weather in
> rural areas is primarily due to the lack of hams in those areas.  Your local
> NWS needs to recruit farmers and cattlemen as spotters to call in those
> reports by phone, if necessary.
>
> Kevin Heyboer KD4UYR
> Pinellas County Florida Skywarn Coordinator
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Tue, 8 Sep 1998 18:29:43 -0500
> From:    Sam Barricklow <k5kj@PULSE.NET>
> Subject: jRe: SKYWARN Reorganization
>
> Great posts!
>
> Yes, I have heard of ARES, and REACT for that matter.
>
> Remember the post where I suggested putting SKYWARN net audio on the internet?
  The
> main reason for that suggestion was so that a group in one part of the country
 could
> monitor a group in another part of the country, and maybe learn something!
 And, I
> would like to listen to SKYWARN nets elsewhere when there is no activity in my
 area.

I'm really interested in these discussions 2. BTW, we are still getting things
 together
and hopefully will have the audio part of our nets on the CASN website by the
 end of this
year! I'll keep everyone apprised, on this discussion group, of our progress and
 the "go
live" date.

> I am currently a member of both RACES and ARES, although I am much more active
 in
> RACES.  But, that's only because RACES handles SKYWARN in Dallas County, where
 I live.
>
> Keep up the discussion.
>
> 73,
>
> Sam K5KJ
> http://www.pulse.net/storm/skywarn.htm
> Recently improved and updated

Nice improvements, Sam!

>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of SKYWARN Digest - 7 Sep 1998 to 8 Sep 1998
> ************************************************



--
***********************************************************************
73 de Greg, WB4HRR/Charlotte Area SKYWARN {CASN} EC
and Piedmont Emergency Training Net {PETN} Net Manager

Visit the Charlotte Area SKYWARN Interactive Website!
@: WWW.CLTSKYWARN.ORG

The CASN and the PETN utilize the 145.35 WA4AOS rptr
and appreciate the continued support!
***********************************************************************

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